3 killed in Leyte highway accident
TANAUAN, LEYTE — Three passengers died while 49 others were injured after a passenger bus they were riding suddenly swerved to its opposite lane and plunged into the nipa mangrove swamp off a bridge at Barangay Buntay in Tanauan town in Leyte, around past midnight yesterday.
Police initial investigation showed that the Philtranco bus (pleate no. ACA9771) was travelling via Samar and Leyte, from Pasay City and bound for Tandag City in Surigao del Sur when it met the accident, which resulted in the death of three, two of whom were minors.
Chief Inspector Francisco Tupaz Jr., chief of the Tanauan Police, said the three, who were declared dead on arrival at the Leyte Provincial Hospital, were identified as Byran Noterti, 30, Quinelyn Galagnara, 3, of Dinagat Island in Surigao, and Windel Simbajon, 15, of Davao City.
Conrado Villagracia one of those who survived the accident, told The Philstar/The FREEMAN that after about 30 minutes since driver Edgardo Legaspi was replaced by his co-driver, the latter failed to control the bus as it maneuvered towards a bridge that was undergoing expansion works.
"Hindi naman mabilis ang takbo kaya lang nahirapan (ang driver) bumawi ng manibela pa kanan," Villagracia narrated.
Noel Manaog, Philtranco bus inspector, on the other hand, said that based on his separate investigation as also narrated by driver Legaspi, there was a passenger who forcibly pulled the driver, causing the accident. Survivors however dismissed this story as a lie.
The police said 80 percent of the passengers were residents of Surigao and were about to take their vacation in their respective hometown.
Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson Jr. and personnel of other government agencies immediately provided food and clothing to the survivors. The Philtranco management also dispatched a bus to the area to transport the survivors and the three fatalities.
Manaog, based on the commitment of Philtranco management, assured the victims that insurance claims will soon be released to them.
Meanwhile, the police said that of the injured passengers, 14 were minors, with ages ranging from two to 14 years old. Ten of them are now confined at the Leyte Provincial Hospital and the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City.