FIVE persons were killed, while scores of others were hospitalized after a head-on collision between a fish car and a passenger bus at Gitagum town, Misamis Oriental, yesterday at 3 am.
Only three of the five fatalities are identified as of this writing. They were Robel Pagasian, 38, a resident of Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City; Silvino Flores, Jr., 39, a resident of Aurora; and Thelma Galleon, a resident of Barangay Bayog, both of Zamboanga del Sur.
While the injured were identified as Herbert Bingolo, 41, a resident of Labuan, Zamboanga City; Mario Antapin, 31, residing at Sta. Ana, Poblacion, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. They are fish car helpers.
The injured bus passengers were identified as Alvin Baldas, 26, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Reden Bagares, 31, Apas, Initao, Misamis Oriental; Adonis Ortiz, 41, San Jose, Pagadian City; and Sherwin James Velez, 24 of Tomas Cabili, Iligan City.
Other injured were Alberto Damasing, Burnay, Gitagum; Danny Boy Galleon, 62, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur; Jimmy Delortrico, 46, Midsayap, North Cotabato; Glorio Pulga, 29, Claver, Surigao del Norte; and Maria Luz Cabillon, 58 of Prosperidad, Agusan del Norte.
All the victims were brought to various hospitals in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City for treatment.
In an initial investigation, it was learned that the incident happened when the fish car’s rear tire exploded.
The driver then lost his control and crashed into the oncoming bus. The two vehicles were a total wreck.
The incident took place at the boundary of Barangays Burnai and Pangayawan of the said town.
There were 14 passengers inside the said bus when the incident happened.
The bus, owned by the Rural Transit Mindanao reportedly left the Bulua Bus Terminal for Pagadian City. While the fish car was from Zamboanga City going into Cagayan de Oro.
