50 injured in road mishap

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  – About 50 passengers were hurt, 23 of them critically injured, when a bus they were riding turned-turtle early morning yesterday in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, 178 kms. south from here.

Ceres Liner passenger bus driven by Medardo Belnas, 57, was negotiating a downhill blind curve at Camp Valdez in Barangay Mambaroto, Sipalay City, when its brake malfunctioned, Sipalay police chief inspector Arnel Arpon said.

The Bacolod-bound Ceres Liner bus turned-turtle and fell on its side after Belnas applied a brake, leading to injuries to almost all of its passengers.

Police investigations showed that passengers who were not seriously hurt, helped extract their fellow passengers from the bus.

The 23 passengers who are in critical condition now, were immediately brought to different hospitals in cities of Kabankalan and Bacolod, while others are being treated at the Sipalay City Health Office Clinic. 

Belnas who was unhurt but apparently shaken of the accident, is under the custody of the Sipalay City Police Station.       – Antonieta Lopez