2 dead, 23 hurt in road accident in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - Two people were killed while 23 were injured in a road accident on South Luzon Expressway before dawn Tuesday. Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported that the JAC Liner Bus (PWN-559) was racing with a 10-wheeler truck when it careened and fell 30 to 40 feet into a vacant lot. The incident occurred along the northbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway at San Vicente village in San Pedro, Laguna, shortly after midnight. Police identified the fatalities as Asuncion Clemente and Wilson Tanigue. Tanigue was rushed to Public Care Hospital, together with 15 other passengers, but he died while undergoing treatment. Eight other passengers were rushed to the Evangelista Medical Specialty Hospital. The report said, the other passengers suffered relatively minor injuries. Investigators have taken into custody Florencio Oliveros and Avelino Maralit, the drivers of the bus and the truck respectively. Initial investigation showed the bus was heading for Metro Manila from Lucena in Quezon province when it engaged in a race with the truck. Oliveros allegedly lost control of the bus, which careened off the road shoulder and fell 30 to 40 feet into a vacant lot. - GMANews.TV