3 dead, 14 hurt as bus falls off canal in Ilocos Norte

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines– Three persons died while 14 others were injured when a passenger bus fell into a canal in Burgos town in this province at dawn yesterday.

Hilda Acobo, Jing Bacuyag and Beverly Palma, all of Ilocos Sur, were declared dead on arrival at the Bangui District Hospital, said Senior Inspector Pedro Barbado, chief of the Burgos municipal police.

The victims were reportedly asleep and were thrown off their seats when the driver of the GMW Liner bus identified as Roel Trinidad suddenly stepped on the brakes.

Trinidad told police a hard object hit the windshield prompting him to step on the brakes as they were traveling in Barangay Saoit.

Barbado said Trinidad was among those injured in the incident.

The victims were taken to the Bangui District Hospital and the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.  â€“ With Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca