Smashup on Cabanatuan road leaves 9 dead

SCIENCE CITY OF MUñOZ, Nueva Ecija , Philippines– At least nine persons were killed and several others injured when a gasoline tanker collided with a passenger bus along Maharlika Highway in Sitio Korba, Barangay Bantog in this province early yesterday morning.

Reports reaching Camp Olivas said that a Victory Liner bus swerved toward the northbound lane at around 2:30 a.m. after hitting a motorcycle, which skidded to the side of the road.

The bus came from Tuguegarao City and was headed for Manila, while the tanker was headed north and reportedly came from Manila.

The fatalities included the driver and some passengers of the bus and a couple on the motorcycle.

Police identified the fatalities as Leoncio Pajarillo, 39, and his wife Evangeline Pajarillo, 41, both of Villa Javier, Bantug, Muñoz; Donatella Aquino of Maguinling, Piat, Cagayan; Sylvino Marzo of Banitbet, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya; Ryan Camaging of Quezon City; Marife Cale Bondoc, of Tanza, Cavite; and three unidentified female passengers.

They were all brought to the Muñoz Funeral Parlor for autopsy.

Injured were Rolando Cotanes, of Maguinling, Piat, Cagayan; Maria Rowena Dacanay of Pugoncino, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya; Arthur Antonio Solinas, 45, of Sta. Maria, Nueva Vizcaya; Juan Lima Taguilan, 70, of Enrile; Araceli Medina; Jone Audalang; Arthur Calinas of Sta. Maria, Isabela; Elvino Bajinang of Juan, Cagayan and Alama Sansano of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

They were brought to different hospitals in San Jose City, Muñoz and Cabanatuan for treatment.

In his two-page report, investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Redentor Honorio said Pajarillo was driving a Honda Wave motorcycle, Marzo was the driver of the gasoline tanker, and Camaging was the driver of the Victory Liner bus.

He said the bus had 42 passengers and was traveling on the southbound lane when it hit the motorcycle, causing the motorcycle to slide to the right shoulder of the road.

Camaging reportedly tried to avoid further hitting the motorcycle and maneuvered the bus to the opposite lane, where the gasoline tanker was coming from the opposite lane, causing a head-on collision.

The helper of the tanker survived by jumping out of the vehicle before the actual collision.

The bus conductor also survived and provided investigators details of the accident.

The impact of the collision wrecked the two vehicles and spilled the fuel from the tanker, but no explosion occurred, as firefighters were quick to react.

Authorities had a hard time removing the vehicles, causing massive buildup of traffic on both lanes. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Charlie Lagasca, Ding Cervantes, AP