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12 dead in La Union bus crash

PUGO, LA UNION, Philippines – The death toll in a vehicular accident in Barangay Palina here on Saturday afternoon rose to 12 persons, with 11 of them women.

Police on Sunday said at least 12 people died while 39 others were hurt after the PJM Love Bus, which came from Baguio City, lost its brakes and slammed into an acacia tree past a curve along Marcos Highway in Palina at 5:40 p.m.

The bus was carrying members of a Catholic parish in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, who were on a Visita Iglesia (Church Visit) in Baguio.

Eight passengers were killed instantly as the bus’ right side was ripped open by the impact. Four others died while undergoing treatment at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Baguio City, more than 25 km from here.

The bus driver, Silvestre Binay Jr., 59, was treated at La Union Medical Center in Agoo town. The Pugo police took custody of Binay after he was released from a hospital in Agoo town.

Lipaen said police were preparing multiple homicide charges against the bus driver.

At the crash site, assorted pasalubong (gifts) items were strewn together with clothes, sandals, water bottles, plates and food containers.

Sena said a group of children playing in that area had left a few minutes before the crash.

“It was fortunate that the children had gone home. Had they stayed there a few minutes more, they would have been hit by the bus,” she said.

Residents and policemen stationed in an outpost more than 500 meters from the crash site were first on the accident scene at about 6 p.m.

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