2 tour guides killed in traffic mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Two tour guides were killed when they were pinned between an aluminum delivery van and their own bus, which was smashed by a 14-wheeler truck in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Mario Cahusay, 28, and Delmar Salazar, 20, both of Taguig City, died on the spot along the northbound lane of EDSA near corner Congressional Avenue at around 4 a.m.

Police Officer 2 Oscar Sese said the two were crushed between their tour bus (TYT-504) and an aluminum delivery van (WJP-739) driven by Oliver Lapuz.

The tour bus had no other passengers when the accident happened. The truck driver, Marlon Calawan, was also injured when he was pinned in his truck (RFC-781), which rear-ended the tour bus.

Sese said Calawan faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to properties. Tour bus driver Roberto Belleja, 56, had an altercation with the driver of the aluminum van that was in front of it along EDSA.

Belleja and the two tour guides were talking with Lapuz when the truck hit the tour bus, which then rammed the delivery van in front of it.

Sese said the two tour guides were standing between the bus and the van.