ANGELES CITY, Philippines — Four persons died while 23 others, including a pregnant woman, were injured when a truck collided with a bus along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in Barangay Sto. Niño, Concepcion, Tarlac on Tuesday.
The fatalities – three passengers and the bus conductor – who have yet to be identified, were trapped in the Five Star bus when it caught fire after it crashed into a Fuso truck carrying acetylene tanks.
The bus driver, Rolando Untalan, 50, and truck driver, Emmanuel Retardo, 46, were among those injured and taken to various hospitals.
Superintendent Augusto Pasamonte, Concepcion police chief, said the truck had just emerged from the emergency lane when it was hit by the bus, which was traveling to Dagupan, Pangasinan.
The management of Five Star bus gave assurance that they would extend medical and financial assistance to the families of the victims.
“We are also in touch with the families of the victims... We are likewise coordinating with authorities to shed light on the incident,” the bus company said in a statement.
Police said the bus and truck companies blamed each other for the accident. – With Emmanuel Tupas