Bus falls off cliff in Bohol town; 2 killed, 11 hurt

A Southern Star Bus fell is badly damaged after its fall of a cliff in Dimiao, Bohol, on Tuesday, killing two and injuring 11. PRENTICE PAUL FOSTANES/CONTRIBUTOR

DIMIAO, Bohol—Two passengers were killed while 11 others were wounded on Tuesday when a passenger bus fell off a cliff in Barangay Tangohay, Dimiao town, about 41 km of the capital city of Tagbilaran, Bohol.

The passengers blamed bus driver Armand Morales, 30, who reportedly fell asleep when the accident happened at 4:12 a.m., police said.

PO2 Rex Gundaya, Dimiao police investigator, said the Southern Star Bus (plate number AAW2191) was heading to Ubay town in Bohol from Tagbilaran City with 13 adult passengers and two children.

He said the bus suddenly stopped about four meters away from the bridge and then fell off the cliff, which was at least three-meter deep.

The bus overturned and landed on a ricefield, said Gundaya.

The windshield was shattered while the front portion was dented.

Gundaya said two male passengers died but he declined to identify them since the police were still verifying their names.

One of the male passengers tried to save himself by jumping off the bus before it rolled down the cliff but he was hit by the rear end of the bus, killing him on the spot.

The other passenger died while being treated at the hospital in Tagbilaran. RC