Police: 4 killed in Negros minibus accident

At least four passengers were killed while some 19 others were injured after an overloaded minibus they were riding figured in an accident in Negros Occidental in Central Philippines Wednesday afternoon. Escalante City police head Chief Inspector Santiago Rapiz said the incident occurred at Dian-ay village in Escalante City, when the bus was trying to maneuver around a supposed obstacle. “Medyo pababa ang daan, may [nakaharang] along the way niya medyo kumabig siya sa kaliwa para mag-overtake kaso nalaglag ang isang tire niya sa semento. Hindi siya naka-recover hanggang tuloy-tuloy nakabangga kaliwa niya. Nag-apply ng brake medyo mabilis ang takbo so yun kumabig nag-turn turtle, overloaded pa," Rapiz said in an interview on dzBB radio. (The bus was traveling along a downward slope when the driver veered left to avoid an obstacle in front. But one of the tires allegedly got detached. The driver could no longer recover, and the bus turned turtle. We also found the bus was overloaded.) Rapiz said the bus driver, initially identified as Walter Yap, surrendered to police and is now detained. He cited initial information identifying the bus owner as one Norman Gustaman. Initial investigation showed the minibus plying a route between Bacolod City and Sagay City was passing through Escalante City when the incident occurred. The bus turned turtle at least thrice, Rapiz said. “Karamihan sa pasahero niya estudyante sa high school (Most of the passengers were high school students)," Rapiz said. He initially identified the fatalities as Sicar Manlalat; Jevin Claudia; Noe Canete; and Analyn Catubig, all 16 years old. — KBK, GMA News