Davao bus falls into ravine; 32 die

DAVAO CITY — At least 32 people died and 40 others were injured when a speeding bus plunged off a 20-meter cliff after being hit by another bus along the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Davao del Sur yesterday.

Police said the fatalities included a six-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, and the driver, identified as Andy Hernandez who reportedly had a hangover from a drinking bout the night before the accident at around 8:30 a.m. in Barangay Kinuskusan, Bansalan town.

Witnesses told police the overloaded bus flipped over three times before smashing into a boulder-strewn ravine. Most of the dead were reportedly crushed to death during the fall.

Police said the bus had a passenger capacity of 60 but was overcrowded mostly with Christmas revelers, with some passengers standing in the center aisle.

The bodies of Hernandez and the other fatalities were taken to various funeral parlors. Hernandez died after being taken to the hospital.

Among the dead were Jerelyn Morello, Janette Libres, Benjamin Capucao, and a certain Baby Albendo. Police had a hard time identifying them because looters had taken their personal belongings.

Those injured were taken to nearby hospitals and clinics. Among them were: Aida, Mark Andrew, and Kent Rodriguez; Antonio and Gemma Albendo; Virgilio Santillan, Jonelle Morello, Dina Oscar, Leo Fernandez, Epimaco Tinio, Arthur Naiga, Marichel Villacuadra, Jomar Policarpio, Ronie Amparo, Ma. Theresa Mapa, Marilyn Rafoll, and bus conductor Robert Culing.

Witnesses told police Hernandez appeared to be speeding to avoid being overtaken at the curve by another bus and lost control of the steering wheel when the other bus hit his own bus from behind.

The bus was traveling between the cities of Cotabato and Davao when the accident occurred. – Edith Regalado, John Unson