3 dead, 43 injured in Subic bus collision

ZAMBALES, Philippines – Three persons were killed and 43 other passengers were seriously wounded in a vehicular accident involving two passenger buses in Barangay Cawag in Subic early Tuesday morning, September 13.

Subic Police Station commander Chief Inspector Leonardo Madrid identified the fatalities as:

• Roque Galaardo, 54, of Barangay Nagbunga, Castillejos, Zambales
• Eugene Bacal, a native of Isabela province and a worker at Hanjin Shipyard
• Ramil Valmocena, 36, of Barangay Nagbayan, Castillejos, Zambales

According to initial investigation by Police Officer 3 Roland Molino, at around 6 am on Tuesday, a ZAMODCA bus with plate number 036402 and driven by Gallardo was moderately speeding toward Hanjin Shipyard in the Redondo peninsula. On board were 55 passengers reporting for work.

On the other side was a Daewo bus (Angelica 888 Express) driven by Valmocena. It had just dropped off passengers at the Hanjin Terminal, and allegedly was “running on its top speed” heading back to Subic Terminal to pick up passengers of Hanjin.

However, upon approaching a downward and curve portion of the road, Valmocena lost control of his steering wheel due to the slippery condition of the road as it was raining at the time. He hit Gallardo’s bus head-on, causing both buses’ front head to “explode,” the police investigator said.

Due to the impact. Gallardo and passenger Bacal died on the spot. The 43 other passengers sustained injuries on the heads and other parts of their bodies, and were brought to San Marcelino District Hospital, San Marcelino. Some are still under observation.

Meanwhile, Valmocena l, who was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes International Medical Center in Olongapo City by a responding rescue unit, was pronounced dead hours later by the attending physician. – Rappler.com