MISHAP. The damaged windshield of a Florida passenger bus that rammed into a pickup truck in an accident in Barangay Lucban, Abulug, Cagayan on Thursday (July 11, 2024). The mishap left 11 persons dead, all of whom are passengers of the pickup truck. (Photo courtesy of Cagayan Provincial Information Office)
MANILA – At least 11 persons were killed after a passenger bus rammed into a pickup truck in Abulug, Cagayan early Thursday.
In a radio interview, Abulug town police chief Maj. Antonio Palattao said the victims, all passengers of the pickup truck, were dead on arrival at the hospital after the mishap that occured past midnight at the Ayaga Junction in the town's Barangay Lucban.
Palattao said the passengers of the pickup truck, who are relatives, are heading home to Allacapan town from a funeral in Flora, Apayao while the bus is en route to Sta. Ana town from Baguio City when the accident happened.
“Ang nangyari is yung Florida bus binangga niya yung pickup dito sa driver side. Doon sa video footage kasi na napanood namin is yung pickup dumiretso siya instead na kumanan sana papuntang Tuguegarao, dumiretso siya biglang lumabas dito sa main highway, tamang tama naman nandiyan yung Florida (What happened was the Florida bus hit the pickup at the driver side. Based on the video footage that we watch, the pickup went straight instead of turning right going to Tuguegarao. It went straight and exited at the main highway, just when an oncoming Florida bus was there),” Palattao said.
Due to the collision's strong impact, the pickup truck hit a market stall while the bus hit a wall of an establishment in the area.
Meanwhile, two other passengers of the pickup truck were severely injured and 23 passengers of the bus, including the driver and conductor, only sustained minor injuries and were brought to a hospital but were already discharged.
The bus driver would face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property, Palattao said. (PNA)
