A freak collision between two buses in Epifanio de los Santos Ave. (Edsa) early morning yesterday injured 28 people.

Police said that a Nova Bus (TWR-949) rammed at about 10:30 a.m. into a Cem Transport bus offloading a passenger at the corner of EDSA and East Avenue. The Nova bus then crashed at the center island.

The 26 injured victims were from the Nova Bus including its driver Danilo Ongonion Jr. who is still in critical condition after being pinned to his seat because of the collision’s strong impact. The two others were from Cem Transport bus.

The casualties were rushed to the East Ave. Medical Center while the CEM bus driver, Jeffrey Mendoza, was brought to Camp Karingal for an investigation.

Several passengers confirmed that the Nova bus was cruising at high speed. After hitting the CEM bus, the Nova bus rammed into the center island.

The Nova Bus’ front and windshield were heavily damaged. Investigators are verifying information if it was really trying to overtake the Cem Transport bus when it went out of control.

Six of the injured victims voluntarily went out of the hospital, while others chose to remain for x-ray examinations and medical treatment.

The collision snarled traffic in the area for hours before the buses were removed from the site.

The accident came to pass despite the Department of Labor and Employment’s new two-tiered wage scheme for bus drivers and conductors that would discourage drivers from racing each other to get more passengers.

Under the scheme, bus drivers and conductors get a fixed minimum wage plus benefits, and an added commission based on their work performance.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) immediately ordered the two buses to submit their own incident report.

LTFRB spokesman Sonia del Mundo said that the two buses were given 24 hours to submit the reports aside from their request for the Quezon City Traffic Sector own investigation report before the agency hands down its decision.