11 dead in bus-pickup collision in Cagayan

At least 11 people died, five were seriously injured, and 20 had minor injuries when a wayward air-conditioned bus and a pickup collided with each other at the junction in Ayaga, Abulug, Cagayan, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | PHOTO COURTESY OF CAGAYAN PPO / IAN TANIECA

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Eleven people died, five were seriously injured, and 20 suffered minor injuries when an air-conditioned bus and a pickup collided early Thursday at the Ayaga junction in Abulug town, Cagayan, police reported.

The Florida-St. Joseph bus, traveling from Santa Marcela in Apayao to Manila, crashed against the speeding pickup at the junction at 4 a.m.

Investigators said the bus veered into a mound of earth and junk, while the pickup crashed into a line of market stalls by the roadside.

Major Antonio Palattao Jr., Abulug police chief, said the victims were taken to a hospital, and the fatalities were brought to funeral parlors. The 20 passengers with minor injuries did not seek medical help.

A follow-up investigation is ongoing. INQ