ZAMBOANGA CITY – Three persons, including a septuagenarian, died while four others were injured when the bus they were riding in fell into a ditch on the Zamboanga-Pagadian Highway, a police official said Saturday.
Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office 9 information officer, said the incident occurred around 7:10 a.m. in Barangay Lutiman, Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Galvez identified the fatalities as Gertrudes Baya, 73, of Barangay Samonte, Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Rina, 14, a student, and Salma Mualam, 35, housewife, both of Barangay Buhangin Mahaba, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Injured were Victor, 62, and Medivina Antiampo, 55, both of Barangay Fama in Olutanga; and Karim, 62, and Sapiya Jarol, 62, both of Barangay Buhangin Mahaba, Olutanga. They were taken to a hospital in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Galvez said investigation showed that the blue Lizamay Express Bus with license plates JVC-315 fell into a ditch on the side of the road when the driver, Noriel Andico, 41, of Barangay Luboc, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte, lost control.
She said the victims were among the 45 passengers of the Lizamay Express Bus, which was traveling from Oluntanga, Zamboanga Sibugay to this city at the time of the incident.
The bus sustained heavy damage and now impounded at the Alicia Municipal Police Station. (Nonoy Lacson)
