By Nino Luces
SORSOGON CITY – A passenger died while being treated at a hospital, while 17 others were injured, after a Manila-bound passenger bus collided with a public utility jeepney in Sorsogon City on Friday afternoon.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
Police Colonel Roque Bausa, director of Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (PPO) identified the fatality as Judy Napili Belmonte, 48, a resident of Barangay Calao, Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon province.
He said that, based on initial investigation, while the passenger jeepney was unloading a passenger on the highway on Barangay Bulabog, West District in Sorsogon City going to Castilla town,when a speeding Ultra bus bound for Manila crashed into its rear.
Bausa said the Ultra bus, driven by Santiago Niera Yolip, Jr, 54, a resident of Barangay Atabay, Hilongos town, Leyte province, was reported to have been engaged in a road race with two other passenger buses.
It was then that it crashed into the rear of the jeepney being driven by Noel Mark Margelino, 24, a resident of Barangay Bucalbucalan, Sorsogon City.
According to Bausa, the bus was on its way to Manila from Leyte.
He said the impact of the crash sent the jeepney flipping and turning on its side.
Responding rescuers brought all injured persons to Sorsogon Provincial Hospital for immediate medical attention while passengers of the bus and its driver were unharmed.
Investigation is still ongoing while the driver may face a case of Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide and Multiple Physical Injuries and Damage to Property, Bausa explained.