• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A bus passenger died, while dozens others were injured, as a result of a bus crash at about 5 p.m. yesterday at Purok Talos, Brgy. Igmayaan, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, according to Mayor Laurence Marxlen dela Cruz.
Of the injured passengers, 36 were reported as teachers of the Paglaum Village Elementary School in Bacolod City.
The bus driver, Nelmore Gonzaga, told RMN DYHB that he was negotiating a downhill portion of the road in the barangay, when he lost control of the passenger bus he was driving, claiming that the brakes apparently malfunctioned.
Owned by the Bacolod City government, the passenger bus fell on its side. Gonzaga was unhurt as a result of the crash, and is now under the custody of the Don Salvador Benedicto Police Station.
The injured passengers were brought to different hospitals in Bacolod City, for treatment of the injuries they sustained.
Prior to the incident, the teachers were on a team building activity at Sipaway Island, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental. The crash took place as they were on their way back to Bacolod City.
Purok Talos is considered an accident prone area in Don Salvador Benedicto.*
