Woman dead, 10 hurt in Argao bus accident

CEBU, Philippines - A midwife of a government hospital died while 10 others were injured after in a bus accident in Barangay Talaga, Argao town yesterday morning.

Argao Police identified the fatality as Maria Teresa Ceballos, 46, of Barangay Panas, Dalaguete town.

She works as a midwife of the Moalboal District Hospital.

Those injured were identified as Darlyn Heredia, 19; Fritz Abella, 22; Carlito Sereño, 53; Ian Neil Ladera, 21; Arnold Alcatin, 39; Alma Medalle, 46; Joseph Biraque, 27; and Lea Mae Pangilinan, 21.

Bus driver, Ernesto Zerna, 36, of Barangay Quiot, Cebu City, and his conductor, John Levi Cabanas, 23, also sustained injuries.

They were rushed to a hospital in Argao and some were taken to a hospital in Cebu City.

Ceballos and the eight passengers were onboard Ceres Bus Liner (997 CEH) bound for Cebu City when it fell on its right side while negotiating a curve road at past 11 a.m.

According to a witness, Jitter Gelbolingo, the Ceres Bus was traveling fast and suddenly went on a zigzag motion when it reached a blind curve until it hit a concrete riprap.

Gelbolingo rushed to the bus and helped the victims who were pinned to their seats, mostly bleeding.

He also saw Ceballos and tried to help her get out but she appeared to be dead already.

Ceballos was reportedly sitting at the window side and was thrown off from her seat upon impact.

Zerna, in an interview, said he was trying to avoid a trisikad and applied brakes when he realized he would also hit an approaching prime mover.

He said the road was also slippery because of the rain.

But PO3 Von Tecson of Argao Police Station said they found out in their investigation that the Ceres Bus was racing with a Sunrays Bus, which passed by the same road a few minutes after the accident.

He said this has been a known problem among bus drivers in the province in their efforts to get more passengers.

"Naglumbaanay man ni sila, mao 'to nga nadisgrasya unya kusog iyang (Ceres) dagan, samotan pa nga danlog ang dalan," said Tecson.

Ceballos's family could not accept what happened. The victim came from Dalaguete to visit her relatives.

"Sus! Tungod g'yud to sa uwan. Kung wala pa mag-uwan, di man na siya makasakay ba! Nganung siya pa man?" Ceballos' father said. — (FREEMAN)