NEWSBRIEFS

PAMPANGA

Soldier dead in mishap

A soldier died while another was hurt when the military truck they were riding in was hit by a bus in Magalang, Pampanga, on Sunday morning.

Major General Jose Mabanta, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based here, declined to identify the victims until their families were informed about the accident. Mabanta said the truck came from this camp and was ferrying a platoon of soldiers to a security operation when a Sagrada Express Bus hit its left side along the Magalang-Concepcion (Tarlac) Road in Barangay (village) Dolores at 1 a.m.

The soldier died while being taken to the Immaculate Concepcion Polyclinic and Hospital in Concepcion, Tarlac, military reports said. The bus driver, Jose Ranilo Villena, was detained at the Magalang police station. Armand Galang and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

CAMARINES SUR

18 hurt in accident

Eighteen persons were injured when a Philtranco bus veered into the opposite lane and slammed onto a parked unoccupied van yesterday morning in Pamplona town, police said.

Bus driver Noel Berenia, who was among those injured, admitted having fallen asleep while driving when the accident occurred at around 4:15 a.m. along Barangay San Gabriel in Pamplona, said town police Chief Inspector Rizalde Recierdo.

It took a while for the police to free Berenia from his seat as he was pinned down by a collapsed metal that caved-in upon impact, Recierdo said.

He said the injured passengers and driver were brought to the Bicol Medical Center, St. John Hospital and Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City. Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon