Multiple vehicular accidents snarl traffic on Edsa

van collides with a bus on Edsa-Reliance causing heavy traffic in the area Tuesday morning. ERWIN AGUILON/RADYO INQUIRER 990AM

Six vehicular accidents along Edsa caused heavy traffic along the perennially congested thoroughfare during Tuesday’s morning rush.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that at 4:37 a.m., a van and a bus figured in an accident on the southbound lane of Edsa-Reliance. Nearly two hours later, two cars were also caught in an accident on the same stretch of Edsa.

At 6:16 a.m., the MMDA recorded an accident involving a car and a cab on the southbound lane of Edsa near the Boni MRT station. The fourth accident happened an hour later, on the southbound lane of Edsa-Quezon Avenue, involving a car and a motorcycle.

On Edsa’s northbound lane, a car and a motorcycle also figured into an accident at around 7:23 a.m. on Edsa-Shaw Boulevard. Just 16 minutes later, two cars were caught in an accident on the southbound lane of Edsa-Monte de Piedad.

The MMDA called on motorists to take alternate routes for them to avoid the traffic snarl so as not to further exacerbate the problem.

Meanwhile, as of 9 a.m., the Department of Transportation said that the MRT-3 has 20 trains running. It has not yet reported any malfunctions, as of writing. –Jovic Yee