CEBU, Philippines - Thirty-nine people were injured after a Ceres bus fell on its side after one of its wheels exploded in Barangay Dawis Norte, Carmen town, past noon yesterday.
PO2 Everett Capuyan of the Carmen police said the bus with license plate numbers CCE 679 driven Ronald Lato, 35, of Daanbantayan, Cebu, was travelling from North Bus Terminal to Daanbantayan when the accident happened.
Capuyan said Lato was travelling at a normal speed and tried to overtake a tricycle in Dawis Norte when the bus swerved due to the road made slippery by a recent rain.
The left front wheel exploded and the bus swerved and hit the fence of a glass dealership on the opposite side of the road. Lato said he tried to swerve back to the right lane but the bus fell on its side in the middle of the road, injuring him and his passengers.
“Gipaninguha gayud nako nga makontrolar ang akong gimaneho nga bus, apan kalit kining nababag sa dan ug natumba gyud,†said Lato.
“Ni-swerve sa fence (ang bus) nabangga sa gate sa, nibawi siya, natumba sa tunga sa karsada,†Capuyan said.
Lato said residents in the area who witnessed the incident rushed to the bus and rescued him and the passengers.
A Carmen policeman on patrol witnessed what happened and called up the station for the ambulance and investigators. The town ambulance brought the victims to Danao City General Hospital, some of them were later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
Those listed as seriously injured were Maria Isabel Arnado, 22, of Sogod; Nerissa Invento, 42; and Mary Zile Dedicatoria, 2; Mike John Invento, 11; and Mevel Invento, 14; of Borbon; Vincent Pestaño, 25; of Bogo City; Dela Cazada Hilven, 37; of Talisay City; and Efren Booc, 26; Mae Geraldizo, 31; Marites Burgas, 41; Ruben Monleon, 23; Alfredo Burgas Jr., 3; and Almira Burgas, 6, of Mandaue City.
Also brought to VSMCC were Reymond Rondina, 28; Christian Rondina, 6, of Medellin; Celirina Maramara, 20, of Mandaue City; and Emmanuel Briones, 37, Talisay City, although they were not seriously injured.
The rest of the injured were Junjie Basilan, 19; Arturo Basilan, 60; George Camay, 35; Eunice Sanchez, 5; Micidel Mepeisa, 23; Jerome Sanchez, 34; Elmer Son, 34; Lilane Balagosa, 48; Lorencia Condino, 59; Chris Ian Jay Abao, 6; Marilyn Apas, 48; Girly Sanchez, 34; Johnke Sanches, 9, of Medellin;
Vincent Carl Visok, 20, of Liloan; Michelle Descartin, 33; Daniel Descartin, 4, of Daanbantayan; Maria Isabelle Arnado, 22, of Sogod; and Evelyn Madale, 52;
Ricardo Sabiton; Marlon Adolfo, 36 and Justine Kent Abad, 16, Mandaue City.
Capuyan said passengers who sustained minor injuries decided to just go home.
Lato confirmed the bus experienced no mechanical failure and that were was no other vehicle involved in the accident. He blamed it on the slippery road.
Chief Inspector Alvin Balio, Carmen police chief, said that the part of the road where it happened was neither elevated nor curved.
The bus was also not overloaded.
The accident caused heavy traffic for a few hours as residents helped in getting the bus off the road. The bus was later brought to the Carmen Police Station.
Lato is now detained at the Carmen police stockade. Charges for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries are set to be filed against him.
“I-hold lang una namo siya while nagpaabot mi sa pamilya sa mga biktima nga mupasaka og kaso or kung dili gani amo ra pud siyang buhian human sa reglementary period,†Balio said. –with Ria Mae Y. Booc/BRP (FREEMAN)