Bus driver in Skyway accident is 20th fatality

MANILA, Philippines–The driver of the ill-fated Don Mariano bus that fell off Skyway died in the hospital early Monday night, becoming the 20th fatality in the December 16 accident.

After a week in the Paranaque Doctor’s Hospital (PDH), Carmelo Calatcat, 39, a native of Dinagat Island, succumbed to injuries sustained when his bus lost control and fell off the elevated highway, said SPO2 Isidra Dumlao of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group.

The bus crashed onto the service road in Barangay (village) Marcelo Green, Paranaque City.

Eighteen passengers were confirmed dead on the day of the accident, while 16 were injured. Another passenger died at PDH on December 21.

With the driver gone, “the only hope for the families of the victims (seeking justice) is the remaining civil case against the management of Don Mariano (bus company),” said the investigator, PO3 Jose Villanueva.

Calatcat’s body was brought to Fairview, Quezon City.