Bus runs over 77-year-old; 12 injured in other accidents

CEBU, Philippines – A septuagenarian died after she was ran over by a passenger bus while she was chasing her grandson along Sitio Mohon, Barangay Cambuwang, Dumanjug last Thursday afternoon.

Severa Pesalbon, 77, was almost unidentifiable after she was ran over by a Librando Bus with plate number GWW-651 and body number 428 driven by Romulo Cañete.

Cañete later learned that his victim was his relative. They both come from the said place.

Investigation showed that Pesalbon was walking along the road with her five-year-old grandson at around 6 p.m. when her grandson freed from her grasp and crossed the road.

This prompted Pesalbon to run after the boy. She did not see the approaching bus traveling south.

The driver, upon seeing the boy, immediately maneuvered to the left to avoid the boy but was too late to see Pesalbon and eventually hit her.

The report said that the victim was ran over by one of the wheels of the bus from her head to her feet. She was found at the rear wheel almost unrecognizable due to the injuries she sustained.

Responding policemen and paramedics saw the victim already dead. Cañete voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.

The driver told the police that when he saw Pesalbon, his initial move was to maneuver to the left but retreated when he thought he would be hitting a store where there were a number of people.

The police later released the driver after the victim's family, whom the driver later found out to be only his relatives, agreed at a settlement.

The bus operators also agreed to shoulder all the expenses needed and has handed over P10,000 for initial expenses.

In a separate incident a few minutes earlier, a Japanese-Filipino and three other companions were injured after the car they were riding rammed a monument in Barangay Poblacion, also in Dumanjug.

Injured was the driver of the Toyota Vios (YFR-750) identified by police as Junichi Kanda Andales, 21, a Japanese-Filipino national and a resident of Gordon Village, Forest Hills, Banawa, Cebu City.

Also injured were his passengers identified as Raymund Lopez, 22; Dazel Demasuay, 19; and Rene Rey Pajaron, 20. All are residents in Cebu City.

Investigation showed that Andales was driving the vehicle from Moalboal bound for the city when he suddenly lost control of the steering wheel and accidentally bumped into the town's monument.

They suffered from bruises in different parts of their bodies.

They were taken to the Barili District Hospital for immediate treatment and were transferred to a hospital in Cebu City for further medication.

The vehicle incurred damage at the front bumper and was taken to the Dumanjug Police Station for safekeeping purposes.

In a yet another vehicular accident, a 70-year-old patient and her relatives who were on board the ambulance of the Municipality of Boljoon met an accident Thursday around 3:00 p.m. at N. Bacalso National Highway, Barangay Baclaya, Boljoon.

Apolinaria Figues, 70, her seven relatives and the 64-year-old driver Amancio Silangan, had minor injuries after the right rear tire of the ambulance exploded.

Among the victims were Michelita Figues, 35, Manuel Figues, 43, Ron Mark Roselio, 23, Margarita Tuban, 46, Lorna Deromal, 39, Gloria Arcelo, 50 and Remedios Figues, 49.

According to SPO4 Cristino Uraca of Boljoon Police Station, the victims were coming from the Boljoon District Hospital and on their way to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center when the tire exploded and the driver lost control.

All people on board the ambulance were injured after the ambulance turned turtle. - Niña Sumacot and Ria Mae Booc/JPM (FREEMAN)