BAGAC, Bataan – What should have been a happy get-together of families, employees and friends turned out to be a tragedy.
At least three died, one of them a 6-year old girl, while 58 were injured when the bus they were riding hit a big tree along Governor Linao Road in Barangay Binukawan, Bagac, Bataan early morning of Sunday.
The victims left Quezon City at 3:00 a.m. bound for Stella Maris Beach Resort in Bagac town. The accident happened at about 6:00 a.m. They were all on board bus No. 5, one of the 12 buses of Jayross Lucky Seven Tourist for a company outing, one of the victims said.
The victims were relatives of bus inspectors and other company employees.
Chief Insp. Ferdinand Aguilar, Bagac police chief, identified the fatalities as Enrique Gaborni, 54, of Commonwealth, Quezon City; Jovelyn Conel, 6, of Batasan Hills, Quezon City and Neli Alburo. Gaborni and Conel died at the Bagac Medicare Hospital while Alburo at the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City.
Report at the Bataan General Hospital said that 58, about 16 children, have been treated of various injuries. Some children suffered broken arms and limbs.
Police said driver Sonny Ricafort apparently lost control of the wheels and miscalculated the winding sharp and downward road and hit the tree. Ricafort reportedly escaped and could not be located.
Adriano Alburo, one of the injured passengers, said the bus was running fast. He lost her sister Neli Alburo and niece Jovelyn Conel. His son suffered from a broken leg.
Binukawan Barangay Captain Pamfilo Mojica said they rushed towards the bus but “masiyadong mabigat ang bus kaya hindi namin agad nakuha ang dalawang namatay na nakaipit na baka nakaligtas kung nadala agad sa ospital.”
He said more might have died if the bus had not been blocked by the tree. “Kung nahulog at nagpagulong-gulong sa bangin, mas maraming namatay,” the barangay head said.
Meanwhile, Jayross Lucky Seven Tourist Bus Company will shoulder the expenses of the victims
“Lahat sasagutin ng Jayross, aksidente di naman sinasadya, ang importante maayos lahat at hindi naman kami tatakbo sa pananagutan,” said Jayross liaison officer Ruby Abrique.
Abrique was supervising the transfer of 17 victims confined at the Bataan General Hospital (BGH) in Balanga City to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.
BGH nurse supervisor Aurora Agustin said of the 71 passengers treated for various injuries at the government hospital, 17 were admitted for confinement because of severe head injuries and fractures while one died.
Abrique said Jayross is holding a yearly excursion for its employees and their kins “para sana magbigay ng kasiyahan sa mga empleyado ngunit nangyari itong aksidente.”
At least three died, one of them a 6-year old girl, while 58 were injured when the bus they were riding hit a big tree along Governor Linao Road in Barangay Binukawan, Bagac, Bataan early morning of Sunday.
The victims left Quezon City at 3:00 a.m. bound for Stella Maris Beach Resort in Bagac town. The accident happened at about 6:00 a.m. They were all on board bus No. 5, one of the 12 buses of Jayross Lucky Seven Tourist for a company outing, one of the victims said.
The victims were relatives of bus inspectors and other company employees.
Chief Insp. Ferdinand Aguilar, Bagac police chief, identified the fatalities as Enrique Gaborni, 54, of Commonwealth, Quezon City; Jovelyn Conel, 6, of Batasan Hills, Quezon City and Neli Alburo. Gaborni and Conel died at the Bagac Medicare Hospital while Alburo at the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City.
Report at the Bataan General Hospital said that 58, about 16 children, have been treated of various injuries. Some children suffered broken arms and limbs.
Police said driver Sonny Ricafort apparently lost control of the wheels and miscalculated the winding sharp and downward road and hit the tree. Ricafort reportedly escaped and could not be located.
Adriano Alburo, one of the injured passengers, said the bus was running fast. He lost her sister Neli Alburo and niece Jovelyn Conel. His son suffered from a broken leg.
Binukawan Barangay Captain Pamfilo Mojica said they rushed towards the bus but “masiyadong mabigat ang bus kaya hindi namin agad nakuha ang dalawang namatay na nakaipit na baka nakaligtas kung nadala agad sa ospital.”
He said more might have died if the bus had not been blocked by the tree. “Kung nahulog at nagpagulong-gulong sa bangin, mas maraming namatay,” the barangay head said.
Meanwhile, Jayross Lucky Seven Tourist Bus Company will shoulder the expenses of the victims
“Lahat sasagutin ng Jayross, aksidente di naman sinasadya, ang importante maayos lahat at hindi naman kami tatakbo sa pananagutan,” said Jayross liaison officer Ruby Abrique.
Abrique was supervising the transfer of 17 victims confined at the Bataan General Hospital (BGH) in Balanga City to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.
BGH nurse supervisor Aurora Agustin said of the 71 passengers treated for various injuries at the government hospital, 17 were admitted for confinement because of severe head injuries and fractures while one died.
Abrique said Jayross is holding a yearly excursion for its employees and their kins “para sana magbigay ng kasiyahan sa mga empleyado ngunit nangyari itong aksidente.”
