RIZAL, Nueva Ecija — Two passengers were killed while 11 others were injured when a public utility bus (PUB) lost control, hit a tree and overturned in a rice field in Barangay Aglipay here early Thursday, August 14, a belated police report said.
Police said the accident occurred at around 4 a.m. as the Baliwag Trans bus, bound for Manila from Pantabangan, was traversing an uphill bridge in the area.
Police identified the bus as a HIPO unit of Baliwag Transit Inc. with plate number NGK 8569. It was driven by Norman Labrador, 41, of Llanera, Nueva Ecija.
Initial investigation showed that the bus suddenly lost steering control and veered to the right before crashing onto a tree. The impact caused the bus to overturn and land in an adjacent rice field.
Two passengers sustained critical injuries and were declared dead on arrival at a hospital. They were identified as Alexander Villajuan, 43, an employee of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and resident of Barangay East Poblacion, Pantabangan, and Genelyn Carbon, 39, of Barangay Ganduz, Pantabangan.
Among those injured were Mildred Grospe, 43; Alexies Villajuan, 13; Alendra Villajuan, 19; Clayden Villajuan, 30; Relyn Pimentel, 40; and Carnillo Jacob, 51.
The victims, including the bus driver and conductor, sustained various injuries and were given first aid by responders from the Rizal Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office before being brought to the nearest hospital.
Police said further investigation is underway, while the extent of damage to the bus has yet to be determined.