By Saul Pa-a
STO. TOMAS, Batangas (PNA) -– In an attempt to overtake a car ahead of its path along the Maharlika Highway in Sto. Tomas here, a speeding passenger bus smashed head-on against a fully-loaded passenger jeepney early Monday morning.
Sto. Tomas chief of police Supt. Barnard Daniel Dasugo told PNA here the jeepney’s front was smashed as its rear also collided with the motorcycle in a triple vehicular collision mishap, instantly killing its rider.
The Suzuki motorcycle with plate no. 5934-PC and driven by Leopoldo Padilla Cabanilla, 38 of 306B Sitio Buhangin As-is Laurel, Batangas lay crushed on the road.
The Daewoo-brand ALPS passenger bus with plate TYS-358 and body number BV-707 driven by Joseph Perez Ramos, 47 and resident of Barangay Calumcob II, San Juan, Batangas was headed south for Batangas when the collision occured.
Supt. Dasugo said the jeepney with plate no. DXZ-792 driven by Oliver Cabiscuelas Del Mundo, 43 of Barangay Bilucao, Malvar Batangas was heavily damaged on its front, lilted to its side and the roof ripped off as a result of collision impact.
Sto. Tomas chief of police Dasugo said his office through PO2 Larry Lumbera received the vehicular mishap information at 5:30 .m. on Monday and rushed to the scene at the Maharlika Hi-way in Barangay San Rafael, Sto. Tomas.
Initial police investigation disclosed that the jeepney and motorcycle were traversing at the Maharlika Highway towards Calamba City from Tanauan City when the ALPS passenger bus from the opposite lane smashed head-on into the jeepney.
The slippery road due to rain also caused the motorcycle behind the jeepney to collide with the jeepney’s back which crushed the driver who sustained severe head injury that led to his instant death.
The passenger’s injured passengers are identfied as: Grace Roxas Lajara, 28 of Brgy. Lumba, Lipa City; Myka Dia Fetalino, 23 of Brgy. 2, Tanauan City; Maricris Duro Dela Cruz, 23 of Brgy. Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna;
Rommel Estopa Aboy, 33 of Phase3A B6 L6 Blue Isle Subdivision, Brgy Sta Maria, Sto Tomas; Renante Urnom Pilar, 45 of Sec 10, Blk9 Lot3, Blue Isle Subdivision, Sta Maria, Sto Tomas; Rechelle Recio Olan, 25 of Brgy. Bulihan, Malvar;
Alice Legazpi Salas, 24 of Brgy. Malaking Pulo, Tanauan City; Krismer Fallaria Fabito, 21 of Sec 6, Blk4 Lot20 Blue Isle Subdivision, Sta Maria, Sto Tomas; Riza Bulahay Pernejo, 30 of Brgy. Santiago, Santo Tomas;
Charmain Kiey Alvarez Rivera, 27 of Brgy. Sta Maria, Sto Tomas; Ederlinda Marasigan Javier, 57 of Brgy. Sta. Maria, Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Gilbert Villanueva Abdun, 30 of Brgy. Santiago, Sto. Tomas.
The victims sustained physical injuries on different parts of their bodies and 13 were rushed for immediate medical treatment to the Saint Frances Cabrini Hospital in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
The two other unidentified victims were brought to the C.P. Reyes Hospital in Tanauan City and expired later.
Supt. Dasugo has deputized SPO1 Orbito S. Micosa, PO2 Rhaldie R. Manzanilla and PO1 Emiliano L. Carandang as officers-on-case for the conduct of follow-up investigation and manhunt operation for the bus driver and conductor who fled after the incident and eluded arrest.