LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Three children and a pregnant woman died while 33 others were injured when their bus rammed a concrete fence in Daraga, Albay yesterday morning.
The fatalities were identified as Ryan Percibal Abrigo, 8; his sisters Georgina, 7, and Grace Ann, 4, and Princess Dichoso, 26, a public school teacher who was two months pregnant.
Daraga police chief Superintendent Joel Adan said two of the victims died at the scene while the two others died while being treated at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) here.
Adan said bus driver Romel San Buenaventura, 43, who was among the injured, was placed under investigation. He added that bus conductor Alexander Mangapo fled after the accident.
Investigators said the Don-Don Liner bus, with 36 passengers on board, was traveling down a road in Barangay Kimantong when it smashed into a fence at around 9:20 a.m.
The driver reportedly tried to avoid hitting a tricycle and lost control of the wheel.
The injured passengers, whose names were not immediately available, were treated at the BRTTH. – With Celso Amo