Mini-bus falls off ravine, 37 hurt

Children ranging from six to 17 years old were among those injured when a mini-bus they were riding in fell into a 10-foot ravine in barangay Quiot, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Police said 37 persons were injured but only three, including a six-year-old girl, remained confined at the Cebu City Medical Center.

The victims sustained bruises and minor fractures.

The group was headed to a retreat house in San Carlos Heights to attend a seminar which was organized by the Sanguniang Kabataan of barangay Basak-Pardo.

The bus, driven by Cristiniano Palabrica, 44, is owned by barangay Basak-Pardo.

Palabrica said he was negotiating an uphill portion of the road when the steering wheel and brakes malfunctioned, causing the mini-bus to move backward and plunge into the ravine.

Palabrica’s wife Imedia and their two children aged 13 and 12 were aboard the vehicle.

Palabrica said the mini-bus was in good condition and properly maintained. He denied that the mini-bus was overloaded.

SP01 Armando Bañoc, traffic investigator, said the driver was at fault.

Bañoc said the driver should have shifted to lowest gear while negotiating the uphill road. The vehicle was on second gear when it fell.

Palabrica was held at the Cebu City Traffic Management group office in case the wounded passengers decide to file charges against him.

The Cebu City governent has extended medical assistance to the victims. /CORRESPONDENTS JHUNNEX NAPALLACAN, CHITO O. ARAGON AND CHRISTINE EMILY L. PANTALEON, UP INTERN VICTOR SILVA AND CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC