15 killed, 48 hurt as bus slams into fence in Cebu

At least 15 people died when the driver of the bus they were riding on was forced to ram it against a concrete fence near a school in Toledo City Saturday afternoon, the third bus accident in Cebu in less than a month. Forty-eight others were injured in the latest accident. Radio dzBB reported Sunday the incident occurred near the Uncrona chapel and the Don Andres Soriano National High School, as parishioners were preparing for a fiesta. Bus driver Diosdado Requizo, 48, said the brakes failed forcing him slam it against the wall as the bus was as careening downhill at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. The impact wrecked the front and right side of the V&JA bus (GVG-145). He is now detained at the Toledo City Police Station and may face charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicides. Witnesses reported seeing the bus speeding shortly before the crash, prompting the police to verify claims that the bus was over-speeding when the accident happened. Initial investigation also showed there were some 70 passengers on the bus that could seat only 50. Saturday's accident was less than two kilometers away from where a trailer truck crashed and killed four people on the eve of another fiesta on June 21. On June 13, a tourist bus carrying mostly Iranian medical students and doctors fell into a ravine in Balamban, Cebu, killing at least 21 people, 20 of the Iranians. —Jerrie Abella/VS, GMANews.TV