7 killed, 4 injured in tollway mishap

BATANGAS, Philippines – Seven people, including a couple and their two sons aged two and 10, were killed and four others were injured when a passenger bus smashed into a Nissan Sentra and a passenger jeepney along the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) in Ibaan town this province yesterday afternoon, police said.

Meanwhile, two other road fatalities were reported in Sariaya, Quezon when a van rammed into a motorcycle along the Maharlika Highway. 

Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director, identified the fatalities in the three-vehicle smashup as couple Francisco and Joselyn Festijo and their sons Laurenz, two, and Jermel, 10; Elizardo Festijo, Maricris Festijo and jeepney driver Zosimo Festijo, all residents of Rizal, who were on board the passenger jeepney.

Injured were Frank Ace Festijo, Marilyn Festijo, Annabel Festijo, and Aaron Festijo. They were rushed to the Batangas Regional Hospital in Batangas City.

The Nissan Sentra’s driver, lawyer Genalyn Bagun, of the Laguna vice governor’s office, escaped unscathed from the accident.

SPO4 Nelio Lopez, chief investigator of the Ibaan police, said the southbound Gasat Express bus (with license plate TYK-287) was cruising the STAR tollway when its driver, Aurelio Doctora, tried to overtake Bagun’s car at Km 98 in Barangay Quilo, Ibaan town at around 12:30 p.m. yesterday.

The bus hit the rear of Bagun’s car and subsequently smashed into the oncoming passenger jeepney, killing six of its passengers on the spot.

The car and bus fell into a five-foot deep canal after the collision.

One of the bus passengers, Daniel Malicsi, he said their bus was cruising on average speed when their driver tried to overtake Bagun’s car which he said seemed to be having mechanical trouble.

Malicsi said they were en route to Iloilo from Cubao via the nautical highway when they met the accident.

Martin Bagui, a relative of the Festijos, said the victims celebrated New Year with them in Barangay Tingga Itaas, Batangas City, as they did every year, and were on their way home. 

The bus driver, Aurelio Doctora, was brought to Ibaan police station for investigation and could face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple serious physical injuries and damage to property.

In Sariaya, Quezon, two motorcycle riders were killed and a third one was seriously injured in a collision with a van.

Police identified the fatalities as Pablo Medrano and his cousin Kim Medrano, both 17, and the critically injured as Leo de Villa. – With Ed Amoroso