3 dead, 5 hurt in Quezon road accidents

LUCENA CITY–Three died while five others were hurt in road accidents in Quezon province on Sunday and Monday, police said on Tuesday.

A report from the Quezon police said a Pasay City-bound Grand Courier bus swerved toward the shoulder of Maharlika Highway in Barangay Silangang Malicboy in Pagbilao town as the driver tried to avoid falling into a cliff on Monday afternoon.

Three passengers were reported hurt but one of them, Laureste Cabantoc, 28, died while being taken to Jane County Hospital in the town center.

Investigators said Cabantoc jumped out of the bus as the driver was trying to control the vehicle. The victim died from a head injury.

Police identified the injured passengers as Joenel Cabantoc, 32, and Gerry Delgado, 29.

In Guinayangan town, tricycle driver Jonathan Verdera and one of his passengers, Joyllin Salahog, died after their vehicle crashed into a bus in Barangay San Antonio on Sunday.

Police said the tricycle occupied the opposite lane and hit an oncoming P&O bus.

Verdera and Salahog died instantly, police said.

Three other passengers of the tricycle were taken to a hospital in nearby Calauag town.

The bus hit an electric post but police said no passenger was hurt, police said. RJLA