2 killed, 7 hurt as bus slams tree in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Two passengers were killed and seven others injured when a Manila-bound bus tried to avoid a collision with an oncoming bus and slammed into a tree beside the Maharlika Highway in Plaridel, Quezon, early Thursday.

The accident happened shortly after midnight Wednesday as the Manila-bound bus, owned by Antonina Lines and driven by one Ritz Lobote, was negotiating a sharp curve in Barangay Tanauan, according to a report made Thursday by SPO1 Raz Zabala, Plaridel police investigator.

The report said Lobote was forced to get his bus off the road to avoid a collision but hit a tree instead when an unidentified bus coming from the opposite direction overtook another bus and suddenly appeared in front of his vehicle.

Two of Lobote’s passengers, identified as Vicente Copino and Nicky Abad, died on the spot, said the report.

Aside from Lobote, six others passengers suffered injuries and were rushed to the Emel Joanna General Hospital in nearby Atimonan town.

Lobote, after being treated for minor injuries, was brought back to Plaridel and is now detained at the town’s jail, the report added.