1 dead, 45 hurt in Quezon bus accident

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—An elderly woman died and 45 passengers were injured when a wayward Manila-bound passenger bus fell into a 30-foot-deep ravine Sunday afternoon in Pagbilao, Quezon, police said.

The elderly who died was identified as Sonia Castro Almario, 68, from Calamba City in Laguna, Police Officer 2 Rosalia Abracellia, of the Pagbilao police, said.

Almario was declared dead on arrival at the Jane County Hospital in Pagbilao where she and the injured were rushed by rescuers.

Senior Superintendent Erickson Velasquez, Quezon provincial police chief, earlier said the ill-fated AB Liner bus with plate number DXL-490 had about 50 passengers when the accident happened around 3 p.m. Sunday.

The bus was descending the zigzag diversion road in Sitio (settlement) Amao in Barangay (village) Silangan Malicboy when it suddenly experienced a brake problem. The bus fell down the cliff after the driver lost control of the brakes, Velasquez.

The bus came from Calauag town and was headed for Alabang in Muntinlupa City. It was driven by Gregorio Delin Banaag, Velasquez said.

The driver was not among the injured and has been detained at the Pagbilao jail, said Abracellia.