8 killed as bus flips on its side on NLEX

Photo from Gloria Galuno

Updated (11:35 p.m. of June 28 / 3:20 p.m. of June 29)

MANILA, Philippines — Eight people died and at least 10 others were injured after a bus flipped on its side along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Torres-Bugallon on Friday evening, police said.

A report from the Valenzuela City police said six of the victims were identified as Leo Victorino; Jennifer Fernandez; Joan Garcia; Mary Grace Alvarez; Maria Paz Mariano; and Zeus Lapig. Two other victims are still unidentified.

Col. Carlito Malapit-Gaces, Valenzuela police chief, said eight casualties were passengers of the Buenasher Bus with plate number AGA 8610.

In an initial investigation, the vehicular accident involved an Isuzu Crosswind driven by Marvin Sipat, 32, and Buenasher Bus driven by Victorio delos Reyes, 39.

Both vehicles were traveling along NLEX Southbound lane 2 when the Isuzu Crosswind slowed down due to heavy rainfall, causing the bus to slam into the rear of the Isuzu van.

This prompted the bus to turn left, hit the concrete median barrier along NLEX and flipped on its ride side.

Eight passengers of the bus died on the spot.  The 10 passengers injured, including Sipat, were brought to the nearest hospital. Eight other passengers are still unidentified.

Gaces said they are still receiving reports of injured passengers in the incident while further investigation is still underway.

As of 8:30 p.m., NLEX Corp. revealed that the vehicular accident affected the traffic flow after the Smart Connect interchange (southbound).

It shared on Twitter a photo of the vehicle pile up at the northbound lane of the Balintawak Toll Plaza as of 7:29 p.m.

Volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross also sent an ambulance to transport injured victims to the hospital.

As of 10:50 p.m., NLEX Corp. said the bus was already recovered and is being transferred to the roadside.

All northbound lanes are also open to traffic while three lanes are open at the southbound section of NLEX. (Editor: Eden Estopace / Jonathan P. Vicente)

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