Three dead in bus-ambulance crash in Bicol — police

Instead of extending life, an ambulance involved in a crash caused the death of three people in Sorsogon City Wednesday afternoon, police said. Three others were hurt following the collision between the ambulance and a passenger bus.

Superintendent Renato Bataller, spokesperson for the Bicol Regional police, identified the fatalties as ambulance driver Benjie Guarie and two of his five passengers — Marilyn Ladimo and Sarah Jane Enano.  The other passengers — Jenny Villamor, Lerma Iglesia and Marissa Enano — were rushed to the Sorsogon Doctors’ Hospital for treatment of bumps and bruises to the head and body, Battaler said.

Citing field reports, Battaler said the incident occurred 3:45 p.m. along the national highway at Sitio Tublijon in Barangay Rizal, west district of Sorsogon City. At the time of the tragedy, the ambulance (Juban Rural Health Unit) was Sorsogon-bound while the passenger Elavil bus (TXX 476)  was bound for Manila. Based on initial investigation, one of the vehicles was trying to overtake, which resulted in the crash. It remains unclear which vehicle tried to overtake. Bus driver Noel Pacala is now in the custody of the Sorsogon City police. No passengers of the bus were hurt, Battaler said. — with Patricia Denise Chiu/RSJ, GMA News