4 dead, 43 injured in road accident

CEBU, Philippines - At least four people were killed while 43 others were injured after an accident involving two passenger buses along the national highway in Barangay Sto. Niño, EB Magalona town, Negros Occidental yesterday morning.

Senior Inspector Conrado Rances, town police chief, identified the fatalities as Nina Paceno, 19, a pharmacy student of Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod and bus conductor Ronnie Javarro, of Victorias City. As of press time, the other two fatalities are yet to be identified.

Rances said that both buses involved in the accident are owned by Vallacar Transit. A Ceres bus driven by Leo Ciocon, 40, of Talisay City, came from Bacolod City and was on its way to Escalante City when it suddenly fell on its side in the middle of the highway.

Rances said Ciocon tried to overtake a vehicle he was tailing but lost control in the process. Another Ceres bus driven by Reynard Sibugan coming from Victorias City also fell on its side after it rammed into its sister bus.

The four victims died on the spot while those injured were rushed to the hospital. The drivers were immediately taken into police custody. — Marchel P. Espina, Correspondent/FPL (FREEMAN)