PNR train collides with bus in Nabua, Camarines Sur; 14 hurt

A single coach train of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) collided with a passenger bus along Maharlika Highway in Nabua, Camarines Sur early Saturday morning, leaving 14 people injured.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Police Corporal Jonard Bufete, public information officer of the Nabua police, said the provincial bus landed on its side because of the impact. He said the mishap occurred at about 3 a.m.

"'Ang nangyari po, siguro hindi napansin ng bus na may paparating na tren, tumawid siya dun sa crossing, at nagkataon naman na dumaan 'yung tinatawag ng PNR na explorer, isang bagon, nabangga po si bus. Sa lakas po ng impact, natumba po si bus sa gilid ng kalsada, pero si tren naman po ay di nadiskaril," Bufete said.

(What happened here was that perhaps the bus driver did not see that a train was approaching. As the bus moved along the crossing, it so happened that a single coach PNR explorer was passing by and eventually hit the bus. The impact was so strong that the bus landed on its side but the train was not derailed.)

Thirteen bus passengers were taken to the hospital after suffering minor injuries. The bus driver was also hurt but refused to be brought to the hospital, the police officer said.

Bufete quoted the PNR as saying that single coach explorer trains are deployed to ply and "clear" the tracks ahead of a traveling passenger train.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a separate statement on Saturday night that it had directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to issue show cause orders against the bus company and driver.

In addition, the DOTr ordered the PNR to explain why safety measures seemed to be inadequate and take steps to ensure that such incidents don't occur in the future.

The passenger bus came from Pasay City en route to Legazpi City, while the train departed from Naga City and was headed for Polangui, Albay.

According to Bufete, initial investigation showed that there were no flagmen assigned nor warning devices installed at the area to warn motorists of incoming trains.

"'Yung lugar po ay madilim… Bali, ang pinaka early warning device ng train ay yung busina niya. Siguro, di po napansin ni driver na may paparating po na bagon natin kaya nabangga po siya,” Bufete added.

(The area was dark… The train's only early warning device was its horn. It appears that the bus driver did not notice the approaching train, so they got hit.)

The bus driver was being held at the Nabua Municipal Police Station as of posting time. He has been in touch with representatives from the PNR.

Meanwhile, the bus remained on its side but was pushed to the road's shoulder to avoid causing traffic congestion. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/ VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News