A passenger bus tipped on its side in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

Residents of Barangay Lico-an in the town of Barotac Nuevo rushed to the scene to help pull out passengers to safety.

The Ceres bus figured in an accident on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

According to one of the residents who responded to the scene, he heard a loud thud that startled him and his neighbors. When they went out of their houses to check on where the sound could have come from, they saw a Ceres bus tipped on its side.

The bus carried 22 passengers, five of whom sustained wounds and were taken immediately to the hospital.

The driver, the bus fare collector (konduktor), and 17 other passengers went unscathed.

According to the statement given by the bus driver to the police, the nut and bolt that supposedly hold the rear tire in place loosened. As the bus was in motion, the said part of the bus eventually got unfastened. The driver lost control of the vehicle.

According to the police, they found deficiency in the maintenance of the bus and that the driver and the management could be held liable for the incident. 

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to reach the owner of the bus company for comment, but is yet to receive a reply as of posting time.