3 killed, 10 hurt as bus rams into houses in NegOcc

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental — Three persons, including two children, were killed while 10 others were wounded past 1 p.m. on Tuesday when a Ceres bus swerved out of control and rammed into two houses in E.B. Magalona town, 23.91 kilometers north of this city.

The fatalities were identified as Florida Pelagio, 38 and her son, Gaspar, 6 and Jillianne Lamis, 1 who lived in adjacent houses in barangay Damgo, E.B. Magalona.

Two residents were in critical condition. They were Julliane’s mother, Geraldine, 27, and 12-year-old Wilma Sales who had to be pried from beneath the bus, said Inspector Loenardo Cubing, EB Magalona deputy police chief.

Florida’s two children were also wounded — Geraldine, 14, and Gabriel, 4 months old.

Their neighbors, who were in the vicinity when the accident happened were also hurt. They were Aspril Jereme, 13; Ma. Joanna Rose Mae Delfin, 16; and Alexis Penuela, 19.  Two bus passengers were also wounded: Ian Asuyon, 17, and Merile Bagyo, 49, of Victorias City and one still unidentified victim.

The police said Ceres bus driver Jess Amable Martinez, 44, allegedly tried to overtake a vehicle in front of him but hesitated because of an approaching truck on the opposite lane of a curving road. As he returned to his lane, the driver hit the brakes to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him. This caused the bus to swerve rightward and hit the houses beside the highway where a group of people playing bingo were gathered, the report said.

But Martinez claimed he swerved his vehicle to avoid a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road that suddenly made a u-turn, said Cubing. The Lamis house was destroyed while the Pelagio house was damaged.

Martinez surrendered to the EB Magalona police. /INQUIRER