Xmas outing in Pangasinan marred by freak mishap; 47 hurt

A Christmas outing turned ugly for teachers and their families after a minibus they were riding figured in a freak accident in Pangasinan province Friday morning. The minibus reportedly went out of control after its front tire exploded while it was cruising in Bani town, 62 km from the provincial capital of Lingayen, according to a report from radio dzRH. The bus plowed into a ricefield, where police found the injured passengers minutes after the incident. Forty-seven of the more than 50 bus passengers were injured, said SPO2 Decoroso Ortaleza of the Bani Municipal Station of the Philippine National Police (PNP), chief investigator of the incident. The passengers who sustained minor injuries were brought to Alaminos Doctors Hospital and Western Pangasinan District Hospital for treatment, said Ortaleza. One of the injured, however, was brought to the Regional Medical Center in Dagupan City for treatment of bleeding in the head area. The teachers are from Mabilao Elementary School in San Fabian town. - PNC, GMANews.TV