2 dead in Quezon highway crash

LUCENA CITY, Philippines  — Two motorcyclists were killed when their motorcycle slammed into a passenger bus at Atimonan town in Quezon province early Saturday, police said.

A report from the Atimonan police station said John Kevin Manalo, 21, was driving the motorcycle with Mary Grace Nodo, 21, as his passenger when they collided head-on with a Manila-bound Bragais Liner bus along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) Buhangin at around 1:20 a.m.

Police said Nodo died on the spot after sustaining serious injuries while Manalo died while being rushed to the Doña Martha Memorial District Hospital at the town’s center.

According to police, Manalo and Nodo were both were wearing crash helmets when they were thrown off the motorcycle. Police said the motorcycle burst into flames after the collision.

Police said the motorcycle was on the opposite lane of the highway at the time of the accident.

The Atimonan police has taken the bus driver, later identified as Joel Jose, under custody for investigation. /muf