2 dead, 14 hurt as bus falls off ravine in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY - At least 2 people were killed while 14 others were injured when a bus plunged in a shallow ravine Sunday dawn in a village east of this city, according to the police.

 

Station Police 4 based in Barangay Culianan reported the bus of Rural Transit Mindanao (RTM) with plate number JVH 919 driven by a certain Rogelio Bambao came from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Norte and bound to this city when it met the accident.

 

Police investigator PO1 Alvin Munsing disclosed the bus was speeding along the highway near the border of Barangay Culianan until it swerved to the right side of the road and plunged about 4:30 a.m. in the ravine in the boundary of barangays Mercedes and Pasobolong along the highway.

 

The police reported the bus rammed a motorcycle killing its driver identified as Amelia Bucoy, 51, and struck a house made of light materials as it plunged in the 40 meters ravine and pinned to death a passenger identified as Raquel Solis of Lanao.

 

The bus driver and for other passengers were unscathed while 14 other passengers, who were injured, were rushed to the nearby Sanitarium Hospital in Barangay Pasobolong for treatment.

 

The bus driver who was detained at the Culianan Police Station disclosed that he drifted off to sleep and realized seconds later as they met the accident.