COMPOSTELA VALLEY: 5 dead, 24 hurt in bus collision

DAVAO CITY — Five persons died and 24 others were injured when two buses collided along Km. 92 in Barangay Magsaysay, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley province on Monday afternoon, February 4.

Some of the fatalities were Elsa Salarda Acedilla, 59, a resident of Montevista, Compostela Valley; Jerome Uyanguren of Veruela, Agusan del Sur; and Hamber Khen Despi, the bus driver of Metro Shuttle, Senior Supt. Arnie Palomo, provincial police director said.

Palomo said 13 of the injured passengers were taken to the Compostela Valley Public Hospital in Montevista; one in Nabunturan Doctor’s Hospital; and 10 at the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City.

Based on the report Palomo received,  the incident happened when the Metro Shuttle bus driven by Despi swerved to the lane of the oncoming Bachelor Bus driven by Cruz Daig after the front tire of Metro Shuttle bus ruptured.

The Metro Shuttle was bound for Veruela, Agusan del Sur from Tagum City while the Bachelor Bus was heading towards Tagum City from New Bataan, Compostela Valley.