CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 persons were hurt when a bus they were riding fell into a ravine in sitio Canlingog, barangay Sabang, Danao City last Sunday evening.
SPO1 Reynante Manulat, chief of traffic division of Danao City, said that most of the passengers sustained injuries but were all lucky to have survived the accident.
The police reported that the Ceres bus, bearing plate numbers GXF-599, driven by Jolito Torremocha, native of Santa Catalina Mabinay, Negros Oriental was negotiating on the highway on its way to Daanbantayan when a Mitsubishi Colt (GAZ-342), driven by Crozyvil Areglado, 30, married, resident of the said place suddenly crossed the national road coming from the barangay road.
This allegedly caught Torremocha off-guard who tried to step on the brakes making the bus swerve before it fell into a ravine.
Torremocha told investigators that he maneuvered the bus to avoid Areglado that caused the vehicle to fell into a shallow cliff.
“Naa paman gani usa ka tindahan nga nipa nga nabugkag kay nadasmagan. Kay og wa pa to natagak ang bus daghan pa ang mga gagmayng tindahan nga mabungkag,” Manulat said.
Passengers were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital but most of them were discharge after receiving treatment of the minor injuries they sustained.
One passenger, Bernadith Pepito, 50, resident of Tobinhao, Daanbantayan remained confined at the hospital because of the serious injuries she sustained.
Manulat said they have advised the relatives of Pepito to bring her to a hospital in Cebu City for proper medication, and let the Ceres bus company shoulder the hospital bills.
“Ako na’ng gi-advisan ang paryente ni Pepito nga dad-on nalang sa hospital sa city unya ang mobayad sa hospital ang Ceres nalang kay na settle naman sad ni sila human nipasalig nga mobayad sa tanan gastohan,” Manulat said.
The Ceres bus has allegedly a capacity of 30 persons but at the time of the accident, it was only carrying 20 passengers. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB (FREEMAN NEWS)