3 die in Lanao mishap

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Three persons died while 22 others were injured when a passenger bus collided with a van in Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte Thursday afternoon.

The van driver and two of his passengers died at the scene of the collision, which occurred at around 1:40 p.m. in Barangay Kauswagan. Their names were not immediately available.

The injured victims were rushed to different hospitals for treatment. Thirteen of them were said to be in critical condition.

Reports said the bus, owned by the Rural Transit Mindanao Inc., swerved before it collided with the van.

Bus driver Melvin Dasdasan fled after the accident while the conductor, identified as Jerson Napo-ot, was arrested by authorities.