1 dead, 28 hurt as bus crashes in Infanta, Quezon

A man was killed while 28 others were injured after a bus crashed along Marilaque Highway in Infanta, Quezon province on Monday morning.

According to a report by Super Radyo dzBB’s Glen Juego, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Calabarzon said the incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m.

Initial police investigation showed that the Search Gear Travel and Tours bus, a Daewoo unit with plate number UVD 253, overshot the road while traveling toward Infanta, causing the bus to hit a roadside barrier and fall on its side.

In Raffy Tima’s report in “24 Oras”, the victims were Sangguniang Kabataan members who were on their way to an excursion. 

Police said the bus was driven by a 46-year-old man from Lian, Batangas, who was unharmed and is currently detained at the Infanta custodial facility for investigation.

Authorities said the buses and other huge vehicles are not even allowed to pass by the Marilaque Highway in the first place. 

“Actually hindi po ‘yan intended para sa mga bus ang Marilaque Highway. Hindi po dapat sila diyan dumadaan dahil uneven po ‘yung roads. Medyo sharp po ang curves at matarik dahil part po ‘yan ng Sierra Madre," said Infanta Police acting chief Police Major Fernando Credo.

(Actually, Marilaque Highway is not intended for buses. They shouldn't be passing through there because the roads are uneven. The curves are also quite sharp, and the terrain is steep because it is part of the Sierra Madre.)

"Ang talagang ruta po nila ay dito po dapat Famy area. Ang pagkakabanggit ng driver ay gumamit ng Waze, itinuro po sila dito sa daan po ng Marilaque,” he added. 

(Their actual route should be here in the Famy area. According to the driver, they used Waze, and it directed them here to the Marilaque road.) 

The fatality was identified as a 19-year-old male passenger, while the injured—many of whom are minors and young adults—were rushed to Claro M. Recto Hospital for treatment.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News