DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — The Bataan Police Provincial Office reported Thursday that three died while 26 others were injured in a multiple vehicular accident along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Olongapo – Gapan Road) in Barangay Bangal here Wednesday night.
Bataan police director Col. Palmer Tria said in a social media post that the driver of the passenger bus will be charged for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to properties.
The report said that 29 victims were rushed to the James Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City with three declared dead on arrival. Bangal is the boundary between Bataan and Olongapo City.
There were reports that the number of deaths in the road collision rose but this was not yet confirmed by the Dinalupihan Municipal Police Station.
As of past 12 noon of Thursday, desk officers said they still could not provide details, the investigators still very busy attending to getting the statements of survivors.
Barangay Bangal chairman Antonio Pega said that the bus allegedly had a brake malfunction while going down the steep road toward Olongapo City when it hit an incoming motorcycle and a tricycle before colliding with the passenger jeepney.
When informed of the accident, he said that they called on first responders and hotlines for the victims to be rushed to the hospital.
“Usually, ang jeepney punuuan at doon maraming nasaktan kasi matindi ang damage ng jeep,” Pega said. The passenger jeepney tilted to its side.
“Sa aking nasaksihan, itong bus bago nagkabanggaan sa pamasaherong jeepney na galing Olongapo papuntang Dinalupihan, mayroon na itong unang nasagasaan na single motor, parked tricycle at L-300 van,” chief barangay tanod Ronald Española said.
“Sa James Gordon Memorial Hospital dinala ang mga biktima dahil mas malapit ito sa Bangal,” he added.
