1 dead, 17 hurt in 2-bus collision in Paco

MANILA, Philippines - A woman was killed and 17 others were injured when two buses of the same bus firm collided in Paco, Manila yesterday morning.

The fatality was identified as Erlinda Magallanes, 70, of Pandacan. She was declared dead on arrival at the Medical Center Manila due to head and body injuries.

According to Superintendent Reynaldo Nava, who heads the Manila Police District’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, Pandacan Transport bus driver Arnel Ampeloquio, 26, was allegedly speeding and weaving through traffic before rear-ending another Pandacan Transport bus, driven by Reynato Sierva, 44, who was waiting for passengers along Paz Guanzon street at around 9:15 a.m.

Ampeloquio claimed his bus’ brakes failed, causing him to hit the other bus.

Nava said Magallanes, who was among the seven passengers in Ampeloquio’s bus, could have hit her head hard against a bus railing when the collision happened.

Ampeloquio’s leg was wedged between his seat and the steering wheel. It took rescuers about 20 minutes to remove him from the bus, investigators said, adding that the driver faces charges of homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property through reckless imprudence before the Manila prosecutor’s office.

Eleven of the victims were identified as passengers Marcosa Gabay, 62; Mante Gabay, 20; Shirly Amparo, 50; Andrew Espenilla, 24; Alita Dayapan, 80; Donna Lualhati, 33; Julieta Gomez, 72; Jayson Romero, 23; Rosalia Espenoza, 54; Violeta Ybanez, 56; and Wilbert Garilao, 35.

The other victims are Jefferson Calot, 25; Riza Ili, 23; bus conductor Wilmer Dadivas and two unidentified persons.