Courtesy: Lesly Moh FB

BY PERCY ROXAS WITH REPORT FROM ELHANAN PAMESA

OLONGAPO CITY – Three persons – including a freshman from Gordon College – died and 29 others were left injured after an Arayat Express passenger bus rammed four other vehicles in a tragic accident that happened at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, along the national highway portion in Bangal, Dinalupihan, Bataan.

Witnesses say the speeding Arayat Express bus rammed a single motorcycle, two motorcycles with sidecars, an Olongapo-Dinalupihan route passenger jeep, after apparently losing control of its brakes.

“The Arayat Express bus allegedly overtook another vehicle on the curved part of the highway, lost control, and collided with the J-07 jeepney full of passengers heading to Bataan,” said Olongapo vice mayor Jong Cortez, who was among the first to inform rescuers of the accident.

The injured were swiftly transported to James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital for immediate medical attention.

Of the three fatalities, one was identified as a 1st year Bachelor of Arts in Communication student from Gordon College. Another student from the same institution, were among those injured, but is reportedly now in safe condition.

The driver of passenger jeep is also in stable condition, according to initial reports.

As of this writing, the conditions of other victims are being closely monitored; there is no update yet from the bus driver.

The place of accident had since been re-opened to the traffic, according to DRRMO-Olongapo.

Observers were quick to point out that vehicular accidents and traffic in the Olongapo-Zambales area appear to be on the increase, as is in the country.

Last Nov. 12, 2023, four people were killed when the car they were riding in was run over by a 10-wheel dump truck on the highway in New Cabalan.

Available PSA statistics recorded that road traffic deaths increased by 39% from 7,938 deaths in 2011 to 11,096 deaths in 2021.

Freeport Insider is trying to collect available statistics on vehicle accidents and road deaths in the Olongapo-Zambales-Bataan area. FREEPORT INSIDER