3 killed as bus slams into dump truck along NLEX southbound

(Editor’s Note: INQUIRER.net is reposting this story to correct its head. It should have been “ . . . as  bus slams into dump truck” and not the other way around.)

MANILA, Philippines — Three people were killed in a vehicular accident involving a bus and a dump truck along the southbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), a Radyo Inquirer 990AM report Thursday said.

The victims were identified by the Valenzuela Police as Honalito Junyo, conductor of the Genesis bus, and Aguilar Bunsa, one of the 15 passengers who were on board the bus, the report said.

The third victim, the driver of the bus, was still unidentified at the time of the report.

Six others were injured and were sent to the Quezon City General Hospital and the Manila Central University Hospital.

The bus, with plate number TWJ 568, was coming from Mariveles, Bataan, when it hit the back of a dump truck, with plate number RKE 803, that was coming from Clark, Pampanga.

The incident occurred along the stretch of NLEX between Mindanao Avenue exit and Balintawak exit around 5 a.m.

The driver of the dump truck, Elmar Gomez, said in the report that he was driving along the NLEX on his way to Paranaque when he felt the sudden impact of the bus hitting his truck.

He said he did not immediately know that it was a bus because it was still dark.

“My speed was around 60 kilometers per hour,” Gomez said. “I’m sure the bus was moving fast because the impact was strong,” he added.

He said could not pull over immediately after the impact because it was dangerous. He stopped a few kilometers away and informed NLEX authorities about the incident.

Two lanes were closed along the southbound lane stretch of NLEX between Mindanao Avenue exit and Balintawak exit due to the accident, the report said.

First posted 10:43 am | Thursday, April 12th, 2012