2 died in Samar road mishap

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
March 29, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The driver might have done everything he could to avoid collision but it was too late.

Two people were killed after a Manila-bound Silverstar bus sideswiped a passenger jeepney at around 9:35 this morning at the Maharlika Highway near the vicinity of Brgy. New Mahayag, here at Samar’s capital.

The police identified the fatality as one Jerry B. Tuting, the driver of the passenger jeepney Marlon, and a 17 year old girl Jerlyn V. Alaga, who was scheduled to graduate tomorrow at the Silanga National High School.

Police reports said the Silverstar bearing Plate No. DVX-967 owned by Silverstar Shuttle & Tours Inc. traveling from Catbalogan to Manila was in a descending motion when the driver applied brake after he spotted the Catbalogan-bound jeepney in front of him to avoid possible collision.

However, it was a little too late because he hit the jeepney, which at that time was on its way up, causing the instantaneous death of Tuting and seriously injuring the girl Jerlyn. The girl died later at the Samar Provincial Hospital where she was brought by the rescuers.

Injured in the accident were 15 other passengers of the PUJ namely: Emelyn Alaga, Rocky Berio, Randy Rollo, Antonio Rollo, Aileen Ortillo, Claudio Mabansag, Rene Ramirez, Jose William Castillano, Junrey Violante, Elizabeth Olinar, Jerome Golong, Bernadeth Pangare, Narciso Cabragas, Reynaldo dele Cruz, and Santiago Dongallo.

The injured were now treated at the Provincial Hospital but unconfirmed reports said that one of the injured already succumb due to the serious injury.

Police report said the bus driver fled right after the incident. No passenger of the Silverstar bus was reported to have been injured though.