HOLY WEEK CRASH. An L300 van and a public utility bus collide along an accident prone area in Baruyen, Bangui in Ilocos Norte province. A person was killed and six others were injired. (Contributed photo)
LAOAG CITY – A man died and six others were hurt in a vehicular accident on Maundy Thursday in Bangui town, Ilocos Norte province, according to the police.
The mishap happened at 7:20 a.m. along a sharp curve of the national highway in Barangay Baruyen, in front of the Bangui view deck.
A report on DZJC Aksyon Radyo Laoag said Cleven Martinez, a bus driver from Barangay Burayoc, Pagudpud town, was on his way to Laoag City when a white L300 van collided with the bus he was driving.
Edgar Paguio, 45, who was in the van’s passenger seat, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Bangui District Hospital.
According to one of the van passengers, Claudia Salentes, 55, from Makati City, her family was heading to Pagudpud when the road incident happened.
She said the driver seemed unfamiliar with the road.
“Paliko kasi kami at mabagal naman ang takbo ng sasakyan kaya lang ay hindi nila kabisado ang lugar kaya siguro ayun bumaliktad pababa kasi eh (We were slowly driving into a curve but our driver seemed unfamiliar with the place so the van overturned),” Salentes said.
Aside from her, also hurt were her son Rogel Salentes, 19; Marlyn Salinda, 13; Michael Paguio,14; Lerio Salentes, 51; and Maria Marilyn Salentes, 56.
They were from Quezon City and Makati City.
The bus driver was brought to the Bangui Police Station for further investigation. (PNA)
