2 dead, over 20 hurt after jeep loses control in Antipolo area where PUJs are banned

Two people died while over 20 others were injured on Thursday after a jeepney crashed in an area in Antipolo City that had been closed off from public utility jeepneys for being accident-prone.

The driver was passing through Daang Pari Road in Barangay San Jose at around 4 p.m. when he lost control of his jeepney’s brakes, according to a report on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho by Jamie Santos.

The driver said he decided to steer the vehicle into a canal to force it to stop, but the jeepney crashed into bamboos instead.

The jeepney driver, Jaime Mendallada, also sustained bruises and wounds from the crash.

“Biglaan po e, pag-apak ko wala na, ayaw nang kumapit. Isinadsad ko sa kanal kaya lang tumalbog lang pabalik at do’n umano sa kawayan,” he said.

“Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa kanila, hindi ko naman po gusto ang pangyayari na ‘yun sana mapatawad nila ako," he added. "Handa po akong harapin anuman dapat kong harapin. tutulong po kami sa abot ng makakaya namin."

Antipolo Police said the site of the crash is accident-prone because it is steep and has blind spots.

“‘Yung lugar ng pinangyarihan, matarik kasi ‘yun, pababa ‘yun, so once na mawalan ka ng preno malaki ang posibilidad na malaking aksidente aabutin mo,” Antipolo Police officer-in-charge Lieutenant Colonel Alvin Concepcion explained.

Still, many jeepney drivers continue to ply the dangerous road to cut down travel time and avoid traffic.

"Hindi po namin sila pinapayagan dumaan diyan. Shortcut siya, napakalapit no’n pagbaba nila ‘yun na 'yung byahe nila,” said Barangay San Jose Rescue Team officer-in-charge Bennett Tapales.

The jeepney driver will face charges of reckless imprudence resulting to double homicide and multiple physical injuries. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BAP, GMA News