Eighteen of the fatalities were reported in the collision of a jeepney and a Victory Liner bus along the national highway in Barangay Rabon in San Fabian, Pangasinan at about 7 p.m. Saturday. At least 24 other people were hurt in the mishap.
Chief Inspector Genaro Sapiera, San Fabian police chief, said the bus, with license plate CVW 969 and which had come from Baguio, was speeding on its way to Dagupan City when it tried to overtake a mini-bus.
Then the tragedy occurred. It smashed into the jeepney coming from the opposite direction.
The jeepney was carrying residents of Loakan, Baguio City who had had an excursion at a beach in San Fabian, some of them even riding on top of the vehicle.
Jeepney driver Moses Tikchap died on the spot. The bus driver, identified as Senecio Panitan Jr., fled after the incident.
The victims were rushed to the Agoo Provincial Hospital in La Union. The casualties included a two-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy.
The 17 other fatalities were identified as Cipriana Camfuli, Jasmine Camfuli, Marlene Tikchap, Sharon Ballocanag, Sally Omanag, Maryjoy Marzan, Venus Banggalat, Venus Canayon, Crispina Piaong, Josefa Wacnang, Linda Wacnang, Marion Tikchap, Meng Fei Lidtiong, Colea-en Gimpac, Valensugo Canayon, Mary Joy Tikchap and May Ann Macyon.
Police said the highway accident was the gravest in the town’s history in terms of the number of fatalities.
In a phone conversation with The STAR, an official of Victory Liner gave assurances that they would extend all the necessary help to the victims.
"It’s an accident. Nobody wanted this to happen so we might as well do what needs to be done," the official said.
In Quezon, seven passengers of a jeepney en route to Atimonan town were killed when the vehicle collided with a Bicol-bound Silver Star bus last Saturday afternoon.
Police identified the casualties as jeepney driver Bernardo Villa, Myrna Parcamara, 49; Lamberto Epino, 65; Juanita Vallesteros, 25; Juanito Vallesteros, 55; John Carlo Pinera, 19; and Corazon Gaulani.
Investigation showed that the jeepney, which had come from Gumaca town, was cruising Maharlika Highway in Barangay Balubad when it rammed into the Silver Star bus.
Witnesses said the bus tried to overtake four vehicles in front of it, but instead smashed into the jeepney, killing its driver and six passengers instantly.
The injured passengers were rushed to the Doña Martha District Hospital and the Emil Jurado Hospital. The bus driver escaped. — With Artemio Dumlao