By DANNY ESTACIO, AARON RECUENCO
At least six people died while more than 11 others were injured when a delivery van figured in a head-on collision with a passenger bus along a national highway in Pagbilao, Quezon, late Saturday afternoon. A report reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City identified one of the six fatalities as 24-year old Analoyd Seyosa. The five other fatalities include two men, two women and a male minor. All of them were immediately taken to the Funeraria Pagbilao.
Seven of the injured were identified as Cyrus Bato Monteser, 29, tattoo artist, of Tacloban; Calixtro Maha Villamor, 44, Philippine Army of Catbalogan Samar; Winston Chima Abad, 19, of Koleta Leyte; John Panfilo Tondo, 27, of Huleta Leyte; Karren Rigo Rosa Diaz, 22, of Burawan, Leyte; Merlinda Garlet Cujano, 31, of Punturin, Valenzuela City; and Angie Mikaela Retana Transmonte, 36, of Barangay San Antonio, Quezon City.
Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) director Colonel Audie Madrideo said the injured were rushed to Quezon Medical Center and MMG Hospital both in Lucena City.
Based on police report, the accident involving a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter aluminum van (EVT 834), driven by Sander Sisic Soliveres, 30; and a CUL passenger bus (EVT 371), driven by Reynaldo Oral Sampilo, 44, happened at 4:30 p.m.
Police investigators said the van travelling the northbound lane of the national highway when it occupied the opposite lane while negotiating a curved and descending part of the road in Barangay Silangang Malicboy in Pagbilao town.
As a result, the van hit a passenger bus which was travelling the opposite lane.
The strong impact inflicted serious injuries to the driver of the van and the passengers of the bus, six of them died on the spot.
At least three of the passengers were rendered unconscious as a result of the strong impact. They were taken to the nearby hospital along with 10 injured passengers.
Police said the driver of the van was also injured and is currently under hospital arrest.
Local investigators are now preparing criminal charges against the driver of the van but said there is a proposal for amicable settlement.
