Fourteen students died while over 20 others were injured after a tourist bus lost its brakes and hit an electric post in Sitio Bayucan, Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay Rizal, on Monday, February 20.
Ten of the fatalities, four female and six male students, died on the spot. The accident took place in a blind curve on Magnetic Hill near Pelegrino Farm at around 8:40 a.m., according to Engineer Carlos Inofre, Tanay's Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) chief.
Four others died while being treated at the hospital, said MDRRMO training officer and administrative assistant Bong Bati.
A female survivor said her body banged on the window while her seatmate's body flew outside the bus after the bus crashed into the post. Survivors said they had smelled of burning rubber immediately before the mishap.
Around 50 passengers -- all students from Bestlink College of the Philippines in Novaliches, Quezon City -- were on their way to a resort in Rizal for a camping activity.
According to Inofre, students seated on the left side of the Panda Coach bus with plate number TXS-325 were the ones fatally hurt.
"Pababa ito, galing sa Marcos Highway mataas, pababa ang bus, nawalan ng preno...Left side total wreck, immediate cause of death, tinamaan sila ng mga bakal...Parang napunta lahat sila sa likod, left side, 'yon po 'yong napuruhan na mga estudyante," said Inofre.
[The bus came from a high point and was coming down when it lost its brakes. The left side was a total wreck. The fatalities were hit by steel, that was the immediate cause of their death. The students who were hurt the most were the ones who were pushed at the back on the left side of the bus.]
The bus driver and the other victims were rushed to different hospitals.
Bati said 13 of the victims were rushed to Camp Capinpin Hospital in Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal; 17 at the Rizal Provincial Hospital in Morong, Rizal; six at the Tanay General Hospital; and one at the Tanay Community Hospital.
Survivors who were seriously injured in the mishap would be transferred to the Amang Rodriguez Hospital in Marikina city. Families of the victims could contact the number 0947.946.9490 and (02)654.1002.
Bati said 16 victims were already transferred to the Amang Rodriguez Hospital past 12 noon.
Panda Coach Tours representative Johna Martires said the company had already coordinated with an insurance firm to provide the needs of the victims.
Martires said the driver, 37-year-old Juliane Lacordia, began working for the bus company three months ago and he had not yet submitted results of his drug test since he was hired.
Source: InterAksyon
Images: InterAksyon | ABS-CBN
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