Wayward bus rams houses, kills 2, hurts 10 in Negros

BACOLOD CITY—Three persons, including two children, were killed while 10 others were wounded past 1 p.m. on Tuesday when a wayward bus rammed two houses in EB 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 Baragay Damgo, EB Magalona.

Two residents were in critical condition. They are Jilliane’s mother, Geraldine, 27, and 12-year-old Wilma Sales, who was pinned under the bus, said Insp. Leonardo Cubing, EB Magalona deputy police chief.

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

Their neighbors were also hurt. Two bus passengers also suffered injuries.

Police said the driver of the bus, belonging to Ceres Bus Line, tried to overtake a vehicle in front of the bus when a truck came, forcing the driver, Jess Amable Martinez, 44, to take the bus back to its lane.

As the bus returned to its lane, however, it nearly collided with another vehicle, prompting Martinez to step on the brakes and sending the bus out of control. The bus hit a row of houses that stood along the highway and where a group of people was playing bingo.

Martinez told police that he had to suddenly step on the brakes to avoid colliding with a vehicle that made a U-turn suddenly.

Martinez surrendered to the EB Magalona police. The bus destroyed a house and brought damages to another.