CAGAYAN -- A policeman turned hero as he saved the lives of passengers of a bus liner by bravely steering the wheel out harm’s way upon seeing that the driver had a sudden seizure along the Maharlika Highway, Libag Sur, Tuguegarao City on Wednesday, Feb 8.
Senior Master Sergeant Roland Gacal, 38, and resident of San Isidro Isabela who is assigned in Dinapigue Philippine National Police, saw the bus going in the wrong direction and encroaching the other lane.
“Nanginginig kamay ng driver, nanigas sya at patirik mata saka bumula ang bibig kaya napilitan ako na imanage ang manibela at naiwasan mabangga mga kasalubong na sasakyan,” Gacal told Manila Bulletin.
The driver who was identified as Jefferson Ballad, 45, and a resident of Garit Sur, Echague, Isabela, was injured when the bus hit the concrete fence of a house along Maharlika Highway in Libag Sur.
"Hindi naman naiwasan bumanga sa pader dahil nakatapak sa gasolina ang driver (The bus still hit the concrete fence because the driver’s foot was on gas pedal),” Gacal added.
Around 6 a.m. when the incident happened. The bus came from Cubao in Manila and was bound for Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
According to the reports, Jefferson Ballad lost control of the steering wheel when he felt dizzy.
An alert policeman, Master Sergeant Gacal saw him and readily took the steering wheel so the bus will not hit the other vehicles. The bus instead hit the house of a certain Jose Arago.