At least 8 dead as bus turns on side in NLEX mishap

At least eight persons were killed after a southbound bus hit an SUV and crossed into the northbound side of the North Luzon Expressway and turned on its side.

According to Katrina Son's report in GMA News "Saksi,"  the accident involving a Del Carmen passenger bus, reportedly owned by Buena Sher Transport, happened after the southbound of the Smart Connect road near Valenzuela exit.

"Going south yung SUV at bus, then allegedly nabangga ng bus yung likod ng SUV, kaya yung SUV tumilapon sa gilid ng daan at yung bus naman nag-turn turtle, humarap going north," Police Colonel Carlito Gaces, chief of Valenzuela police said.

"Malakas kasi ang ulan, sabi ng driver ng SUV, ...actually, sabi niya zero visibility," he added.

Gaces said the bus, with license plate AGA 8610, was carrying no more than 30 passengers.

The casualties have been brought to the funeral parlors, but police has yet to determine their identity.

The injured passengers were at the MCU Hospital and the Valenzuela General Hospital, Gaces added.

According to the report, a representative of the bus company was already in touch with the victims and vowed to shoulder the expenses.

Earlier, a tweet by the Philippine Red Cross showed that the accident happened near NLEX's Valenzuela Exit early Friday night.

We are closely monitoring a vehicular crash involving a passenger bus near Valenzuela Exit, Torres Bugallon, Northbound. We have dispatched 3 ambulances and a rescue vehicle, as well as alerted nearby hospitals. PRC is coordinating w NLEX for further actions. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/CdynhZnNDl

— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) June 28, 2019

According to Rodil Vega's report on Super Radyo dzBB, initial investigation by the Valenzuela police showed that six persons were killed in the accident.

Several passengers have reportedly been brought to nearby hospitals.

Tweets by the NLEX management showed that the mishap affected both lanes of the expressway as early as 7:30 p.m. resulting in heavy traffic.

Its latest tweet, at 10:50 p.m. said that "the  bus involved in the accident has already been recovered and moved to the roadside. All northbound lanes are now open to traffic, while three lanes are open in the southbound section."

#NLEXTrafficUpdate

The bus involved in the accident has already been recovered and moved to the roadside. All northbound lanes are now open to traffic, while three lanes are open in the southbound section.@MMDA

— NLEX Corporation (@NLEXexpressways) June 28, 2019

 —NB/LDF, GMA News