CEBU CITY, Philippines – Five persons were injured early Monday in a four-vehicle smashup on the national highway of Compostela town, some 25 kilometers from this city.
The authorities identified the injured as Marciano Mata of Cambanag, Danao City; Adriano Nadela; Junelyn Dohinog of Lamac, Consolacion; Carlo Jane Borja of Cansaga, Consolacion; and Adonis Ardina, 37 of Mandaue City.
Senior Police Officer 4 Florencio Balila, traffic investigator of the Compostela Police station, said the accident involved a Mitsubishi Delica pick-up (plate no. JDJ 196) and Isuzu passenger bus (GWN 147), both heading to Cebu City; and north-bound Ceres bus (FWA 965) and Danao City-bound Isuzu Elf mini-bus (GXG 145).
Mata, the owner and driver of the Mitsubishi pick-up, suffered a leg fracture and was brought to the North General Hospital in Cebu City.
Nadela, passenger of the pick-up; Dohinog, Borja and Ardina, all passengers of the Isuzu Elf, were brought to different hospitals in Cebu City.
Balila said the accident happened at 5:48 a.m. in Sitio Lutao, Barangay Estaca when the Cebu City-bound Isuzu bus from Tuburan town tried to overtake the Mitsubishi pick-up.
Upon seeing the approaching Ceres bus, the Isuzu bus swerved to the right side hitting the pick-up, he added. The impact then caused the Mitsubishi pick-up to hit the Ceres bus on the other lane while the oncoming Isuzu Elf mini bus also hit the Mitsubishi pick-up.