Cop, kin die in Quezon mishap

INFANTA, Quezon, Philippines – A police officer and his cousin died while two others were injured when their car hit a tree in this town on Sunday morning.

Police Officer 1 Karlo Astrera, 24, and his cousin John Jay Astrera, 30, were declared dead on arrival at the Claro M. Recto Hospital, where their companions – Michael Dann Bolos and Winberto Warren Moises – were also taken for treatment.

The police officer lost control of the wheel as they were traveling in Barangay Pilaway at around 4 a.m., according to Chief Inspector Roberto Santos, town police chief.

The car rolled over after it hit the tree.

Meanwhile, 15 persons were injured when their bus figured in an accident in Zamboanga City on Sunday.

The Liza May Express bus (JVG 180) was traveling in Barangay Bolong when it hit a traffic sign and an electric post before falling on its side shortly before noon.

City police Station 3 commander Gary Bahoy said the bus’ front tires burst, causing the driver, Danilo Guerrero, to lose control of the wheel.

Guerrero and his 14 passengers were brought to different hospitals for treatment. Two of them were reported to be in critical condition.

In Pangasinan, a toddler died when he fell from a van in Bayambang on Sunday.

Town police chief Superintendent Gregorio Galsim told The STAR that the boy climbed on the bumper of an L300 Mitsubishi van parked in front of the victim’s house in Barangay Darawey.

The boy fell when van driver Butch Briones, 33, started the vehicle. He was declared dead on arrival at the Bayambang District Hospital.

Briones was brought to the police station for investigation. He said he was not aware that the boy was on the bumper. – With Roel Pareño, Eva Visperas