5 killed in Naga accident

CEBU, Philippines - Five people were killed  and about 20 were injured when a speeding truck bumped and dragged a bus at the national highway of Barangay Uling, Naga City at 5:30 p.m. yesterday.

Of the five casualties, only one was identified as of last night.

He was Antonito Umagay of Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, driver of the Prime Mover trailer bearing plate number GUT-405.

Some of the 20 victims were rushed to the Carmen Copper Hospital in Barangay Don Andres Soriano while others were referred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial  Medical Center in Cebu City.

PO2 Cristino Canono, traffic investigator, told The FREEMAN that the BT bus liner unit with plate number GWH-253 was travelling from Cebu City to Toledo City while the truck was travelling from the opposite direction when the accident happened.

Canono said that Umagay lost control of the steering wheel when the brakes of the truck malfunctioned at a curve.

The truck hit the side of the bus causing it to fall on its side. The bus was dragged about three to five meters away from the point of impact before it fell on a canal.  A witness, Terry Bacaro, 55, said she was about to buy a prepaid load at a store when she saw the truck traveling at high speed, with the driver repeatedly honking its horn.

“Nakit-an nako nga nagpakusog sad og padagan ang bus kay molikay pero naigo gyud,” she said. (I saw the bus also picked up speed to avoid the being hit.)

Bacaro saw three people thrown off the road, prompting her to seek help from her neighbors. — /JPM (FREEMAN)