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[av_heading heading=’Christmas tragedy: Jeep-bus collision kills 20 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Twenty jeepney passengers were killed while 26 others were injured in a collision with a passenger bus yesterday – Christmas Day – in Barangay San Jose, Agoo town in La Union province.
The Partas bus was bound for Laoag City, Ilocos Norte when it crashed against the jeepney laden with people from the same extended family travelling to Christmas Day mass at around 3:30 a.m., police said.
“They (the family) were trying to catch a mass in Manaoag,” Agoo police officer Vanessa Abubo said.
The centuries-old Our Lady of Manaoag church is a popular pilgrimage site featuring an icon of the Virgin Mary that the faithful say performs miracles.
Officers identified some of the fatalities as Pepito Antolin; Virgie Antolin, 34; Mark Jerson Cabero, 7; Cecilia Antolin; Johnny Cabradilla, 43; Chita Cabradilla; Florence Cabradilla; Vicky Antolin; Adela Antolin; jeepney driver Rolando Perez; Hanna Ramirez, 10; a 5-month-old baby; and Claudine Cabradilla.
Nine other occupants of the jeepney were injured, as were 17 travelling on the bus, according to an updated tally released by regional police.
Agoo is 200 kilometers north of Manila. The family came from the town of Bauang, an hour’s drive from Manaoag, police said.
Chief Inspector Roy Villanueva, officer-in-charge of the Agoo police station, said the jeepney went to the lane of the bus.
The collision caused the jeepney’s engine to get dismembered and the front of the bus destroyed, he said.
“Iyong jeep po napunta sa lane ng Partas so there is a possibility na may in-overtake po,” said Villanueva. “Tinitingnan din po namin kung nakatulog iyong driver kaya napunta sa kabilang lane.”
“It was possible na iyong driver ng jeepney ay sumubok na i-overtake iyong isang sasakyan or the driver fell asleep,” he added. “Some of the families had already been notified while many others already arrived in the hospitals.”
In a statement, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said it will wait for the latest on the police investigation before issuing any order to the transportation companies involved. (With Agence France-Presse/PN)
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