Some of the survivors of a deadly bus crash along NLEX Friday said they crawled out of the wreckage in complete darkness and saw bodies littered on the road, including one hanging from a concrete barrier.
Eight bus passengers died and at least 15 were injured when a Buenasher Transport Bus slammed into an Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) and careened toward a road barrier before flipping on its side. The accident happened at around 7 p.m. under heavy downpour in Valenzuela City.
Randhel Lucas, a 42-year-old call center agent working in Quezon City, said he was sleeping when he heard a loud scream followed by the crash.
Seated on the third to the last row, Lucas said it was pitched black and followed the light coming from the broken windshield of the bus.
“Sumisigaw ako kung may malalabasan ba. Walang sumasagot. May nakita akong maliwanag,” he said. “So, naglakad ako papunta doon, sa windshield. Sinubukan ko kung may lalabasan doon.”
Lucas, who took the bus from Sta. Rita, Bulacan, said he remembered seeing bodies around him. “Iniwasan ko yung mga tao sa paligid. Ang daming nakakalat, yung iba wala ng buhay,” he recalled.
Two of the injured were children, according to Lucas who placed their age between 10 and 7. “Sila yung nakaupo sa likod ko na may kasamang nanay,” said Lucas who overheard one man saying that one of the victims was probably dead.
Lucas and 11 others were picked up by a jeepney driver and brought to the Quezon City General Hospital.
Jully Ann Jose, 32, another call center agent, got out of the bus through a hole of the bus roof.
“Sumigaw ako ng tulong. May lalaking humila sa akin,” she said. “Paglabas ko, nakita ko na may mga taong patay, isa nakasabit sa concrete barrier.”
Jose suffered lacerations on her right arm.
Police Chief Master Sergeant Chandru Nambio said four of the bodies were recovered out of the bus with the rest pinned to death.
Meanwhile, the fatalities have been identified by police. They were Leo Victorino, 38; Jennifer Fernandez, 32; Joan Salcedo; Mary Grace Alvarez; Maria Paz Mariano; Zeus Reyes, 45; Noberto Ancajas, 48; and John Christopher Ednave, 36.
Victorio delos Reyes, the 39-year-old bus driver, was among those thrown out of the bus through the windshield following the strong impact. But Reyes escaped death and was brought to the hospital along with the other injured passengers.
Among those injured were Cherilyn del Rosario, 23; Michael Abogadie, 28; Nikki Agustin, 27; RJay Mark Mallari, 31; John Patrick Gayon, 10; Justin Gayon, 7; Neil Bryan Antonio; Jaykee Arriesgado; Leonila Hermogenes; Redhel Lucas, 41; Jully Ann Jose, 32; and Sujan Shretha, 44.
Marvin Joseph Dipat Giron, the 32-year-old AUV driver, was injured along with seven-year-old son Rafael Mohan Giron, 7, when the collision sent the AUV into a drainage canal.
“Thank you very much Lord. Salamat at di Mo kami pinabayaan lalo na mga anak ko. Salamat po sa 2nd life. Dibale na ako wag lang pamilya ko,” said Giron in a message he posted on Facebook.
The Giron family lives in San Antonio, Cavite.
Despite low visibility brought about by heavy rains, Nambio said the bus was traveling at high speed, a fact confirmed by Suijan Shreshna, one of the passengers.
Nambio said passengers who escaped injuries may have left the area on their own, He said there were about 30 bus passengers.
The accident caused heavy traffic in the island’s major link to the North. The road was finally cleared of obstruction at around 1 a.m. the next day, according to police.
The bus driver, who is recuperating in the hospital, faces multiple counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injury, and damage to property. (Minka Tiangco and Joseph Pedrajas)
