26 injured as bus falls off ravine in Quezon

SAN NARCISO, Quezon, Philippines – Twenty-six persons were injured when a bus fell into a ravine in this town at dawn Monday.

Froilan Deocariza, 48, driver of Barney bus (DWY 924) reportedly lost control of the wheel as he was driving along the road in Sitio Batud, Barangay Abuyon, according to town police chief Senior Inspector Joselito  Araja.

Araja said the bus was headed for San Andress from Lucena City when it figured in an accident at past 4 a.m.

The injured passengers were brought to the San Narciso Municipal Hospital for treatment while Deocariza was confined at Quezon Medical Center in Lucena.

Van falls off cliff

Meanwhile, in Benguet, four persons were also injured when a van fell into a ravine along Kennon Road on Monday afternoon.

Van driver Jessie Itchok Estoe, Arjay Zamora, Zebring Zamora and Ben Cabuang were rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

Reports said the victims’ vehicle developed engine trouble along  Kennon Road in Tuba.

The driver lost control of the wheel and the van fell into the ravine.

2 dead in motorcycle mishap

In Iloilo, two men died after their motorcycle collided with a bus in Lambunao town.

Romy Lentija, 35, and Jude Activa, 39, were declared dead on arrival at the Dr. Ricardo Ladrido Memorial District Hospital due to fractured skulls, town police chief Inspector Felix Alianza Jr. said.

Reports said the motorcycle, which was running at top speed, tried to overtake another vehicle but slammed into a CBL passenger bus driven by Filomeno Sombrino.

Sombrino surrendered to authorities after the accident which occurred in Barangay Magbato.

Alianza said the bus operator had expressed willingness to settle the case.

“We will file a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide should the operator fail to appear or send a representative to our office,” he said. – With Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig, Jennifer Rendon