A day after fleeing his overturned bus following a road accident that injured 28 passengers in Naga City, bus driver Marcial Vasquez turned himself over to the Naga City police at 10:45 a.m yesterday.
Vasquez, 31, told police that he just took time to have his wounds treated.
He denied allegations that he abandoned his passengers of the Benet Calvo Transport bus.
The driver’s surrender came as another bus accident injured 10 persons in barangay Pitalo, San Fernando town in southern Cebu at past 6 a.m yesterday.
“He did not give a lot of reasons for his conduct. He just said that he took time to have his wounds treated,” PO2 Gilmer Noval said.
Police said the driver had scratches on his face and hands.
Vasquez, a resident of barangay Talavera, Toledo City didn’t tell [police where he went after the accident.
“Some drivers involved in vehicular accidents flee because they are scared of getting mauled,” said Noval.
SPO2 Ian Quitayin said Vasques’s surrender wasn’t voluntary since over 24 hours had passed after the accident when he turned himself in.
“It is an aggravating circumstance that can be used in court upon filing of the case,” Quitayin said.
But so far, none of the bus passengers have come forward to file a complaint.
Police said the driver may have “miscalculated” manuevering a sharp curve in the highway in barangay Mainit, Naga.
They are also checking reports that Vasquez was over-speeding or tried to overtake a vehicle that caused him to lose control of the bus.
Survivors interviewed by Cebu Daily News at the hospital said the bus increased its speed upon nearing the curve, and tried to overtake a dumptruck.
The bus reportedly swerved to the oppositte lane when it got sideswiped by an oncoming 10-wheeler dumptruck and overturned in a ditch.
The bus turned on its side on a canal at the side of the road.
Quitayin said the owner of the Calvo bus, Jovita Calvo, is paying the hospital bills of injured passengers.
“But the bus owner is accountable to the passengers. They need to face this,” Quitayin said.
Buslines are supposed to have “insurance” to cover their passengers , a requirement for securing a franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Quitayin said the injured bus passengers s have until 10 a.m next Tuesday to file charges otherwise they will release Vasquez.
Vasquez drove a Calvo bus bearing plate GWH-253. The 29-year-old driver of the dump truck that hit the bus is still detained in the Naga police precinct.
In barangay Pitalo, San Fernando town, a yellow green Isuzu Alvios mini-bus bearing plate number GWJ-748 driven by Danilo Navares crashed into an open drainage canal, injuring 10 people.
The victims were identified as Alexander Navarro, 54; Angelisa Soronio, 39; Conrada Dazo, 53; Ruel Antipolo, 34; Elma Aljales, 26; Loren Laude, 32; Lilian Cabelino, 41; Corazon Zamante, 62; Nimfa Duropan, 56; and Lucresio Lucido, 73.
All were brought by ambulance to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center .
Navares, 41, surrendered to the Naga police. He was slightly wound on his right foot.
The vehicle is owned by Robert Alcantara of Camella Homes, barangay Lawaan Talisay City.
The minibus was headed to Carcar City before the accident at 6 a.m.
When the vehicle reached barangay Pitalo at 6 a.m., Navares said the mechanism connected to the wheels was damaged.
He said he lost control and the mini-bus rammed an open drainage at the roadside and overturned.
Navares said he was driving at low speed. There were less than 20 passengers in the bus.
“It was an accident,” Navares told Cebu Daily News.
He said he’s been driving the Alvios mini-bus for five years and yesterday was the first time he had an accident.
Police said a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries may be filed if complainants come forward.