LRT operator in suicide incident charged

Charges were filed against the operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 train that hit and killed a woman who jumped into the tracks at the LRT's EDSA station Thursday, even as the LRT Authority vowed to defend him.

LRT-1 train operator Anthony Gunay, 35, now faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for the incident, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

Before dawn Thursday, Lucy Aroma, 52, jumped into the tracks of the LRT-1 EDSA station, and was fatally hit by the train operated by Gunay.

Gunay, who was taken into custody by the Pasay City police, was quoted in the report as saying he hit the brakes when he saw Aroma on the tracks. However, it was too late as the woman had been hit before the train halted.

Her death forced the suspension of operations at the station, and forced the LRT-1 to bypass the EDSA station for hours.

Meanwhile, LRTA spokesman Hernando Cabrera said they will not allow Gunay to operate a train for now because of the trauma.

"He is not suspended sa work pero SOP na hindi muna siya pwede mag-operate ng train dahil sa trauma involved,"Cabrera said.

Also he added that as SOP, police have to file charges against the operator involved in the incident.

But he said the LRTA will "support and defend Gunay."

Meanwhile, the dzBB report said the LRTA is also considering having the trains blessed aside from being inspected, following Thursday's incident. — LBG, GMA News

TRANSLATION :

Police : " Give us some money because we got tired going here and doing the inspection. "

LRTA : " no way. That is your JOB ".

Police : " Okay. We will charge the operator for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide."