Bust at tail-end of funeral cortege rams van, triggering multiple collision

At least 15 people were injured in a six-vehicle collision yesterday afternoon in Cebu City.

Police said all the vehicles were part of a funeral cortege that was on its way to the Queen City Memorial Garden in the North Reclamation Area. The convoy came all the way from barangay Tabunok in Talisay City.

Traffic investigator PO2 Edgardo Becoy said a bus owned by the Talisay City government triggered the multiple collision after it rammed a Toyota Revo van which then hit four other vehicles.

The strong impact caused one of the two Multicabs involved in the crash to spin around. It’s windscreen was likewise shattered.

“Ningtuyok jud among sakyanan, maayo na lang wa mibali kay daghan pa unta tog madisgrasya (Fortunately, our vehicle did not tip over when it spun around. More people would have gotten hurt),”  said Farley Jurado, 53 who was on board the Multicab.

Traffic investigator PO2 Edgardo Becoy said they have placed the bus driver, Bryan Quimada, under their custody. He will be facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries and damage to property.

Becoy pinned the blame on the bus driver for closely following the Revo and not giving enough stopping distance.

“Ningkalit ug menor ang gauna mao tong nadombol niya. Murag domino effect ni siya hantod sa pinakaunahan (The vehicle infront of the bus suddenly reduced speed that’s why it got bumped from behind and triggered a domino effect that affected four other vehicles in the convoy) ,” Becoy told reporters.

Quimada, an employee of the Talisay City government, said they were on the tail-end of the cortege. He said he tried to apply the brakes when the Revo infront of them slowed down to stop, but the bus went on to ram the van. All eight passengers of the Revo were injured in the accident.

“Dili man na siya diretso mu-brake gud kay dako man ang bus (The bus did not stop instantly because of its size),” he said.

Police said they will look into the possibility of mechanical failure in the accident.

The vehicles involved in the accident were taken to the impounding area of the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom).

Those injured were identified as: Geraldin Falcon, 31; Ernest Jurado, 31; Mae Jurado, 28; Marcelo Delfino, 47; Marietta Araja, 22; Zach Jurado, 5; Marlon Pabroa, 36; Gladys Mae, 62; Rogelio Pabroa, 63; Paulisa Opena; Marilyn Gales; Estelita de los Reyes; Editha Dael; Aquilina Manguinsay; Yolanda Daan, and Roselier Ejercito.

Twelve of them were taken to the Cebu City Medical Center while the rest were rushed to Chong Hua Hospital. /Joy Cherry S. Quito, Correspondent