7 killed in STAR tollway accident
BATANGAS CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Seven people, including 3 minors, died when their passenger jeepney collided with a passenger bus and a car along the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) tollway in Ibaan town, Batangas province on Sunday afternoon, police said.
The fatalities were identified as couple Francisco and Joselyn Festijo, their 2 sons Laurenz, 2 and Jermel, 10; Elizardo Festijo, Maricris Festijo, and jeep driver Zosimo Festijo. All were residents of Rizal province.
Four others were injured, according to Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director.
Frank Ace Festijo, Marilyn Festijo, Annabel Festijo, and Aaron Festijo are now undergoing treatment at the Batangas Regional Hospital in Batangas City.
Lawyer Genalyn Bagun of the Laguna vice-governor’s office who was onboard the black Nissan Sentra car with plate number SFB-447, escaped unscathed from the accident.
A south-bound passenger bus Gasat Express (plate number TYK-287) was cruising along the Star tollway when the bus driver, Aurelio Doctora, tried to overtake Bagun’s car at KM 98 in Barangay Quilo, Ibaan Batangas around 12:30p.m., according to Senior Police Officer 4 Nelio Lopez, chief investigator of the Ibaan police.
The bus hit the rear portion of Bagun’s car when he swerved to the opposite direction. The bus then rammed into the oncoming passenger jeepney (with plate number PET- 814) killing 6 of its passengers instantly.
A bus passenger, Daniel Malicsi, he said they were cruising in an average speed when their driver tried to overtake the car in front.
“Hindi naman mabilis ang takbo namin, ang mabilis ay ang jeeney na kasalubong namin kaya kami nabangga” Malicsi told ABS-CBN News.
Malicsi added that the car seems having a mechanical trouble before the accident happened.
“Pahinto-hinto ang kotse sa harap namin na parang nasiraan kaya inobertakan ng driver namin,” he added.
Malicsi said they were enroute to Iloilo from Cubao via Nautical Highway when the accident occurred.
Martin Bagui, a relative of the fatalities, said his family members celebrated the New Year in their house in Barangay Tingga Itaas in Batangas City and were on their way home.
“Nakakalungkot kasi taon-taon silang nag cecelebrate ng New Year dito sa amin at papauwi na sana sila kasi may pasok na bukas,” Bagui said.
He could face charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and multiple serious physical injuries and damage to property. – With reports from Sarita Kare, ABS-CBN Southern Tagalog; ANC
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Share your views
Discipline-Respect Life
Kawawa naman mga kapitbahay ko po ang mag-asawa at yung isang lalake na anak 50/50 nasa ospital pa ipag-dasal po sana natin. Nakita ko pa sila kelan lang, simpleng jeepney driver lang ang kinabubuhay nila,condolence po sa mga kaanak. Siguro tama po yung mga nagcomment na disiplina ang kelan, sa mga asian countries may sticker ang mga bus na limited to 80/90 khp lang pero may mga aksidente pa rin.
At parte-parte rin lang mga speed sensor para mahuli sila.
Nasa driver din talaga yan, sana magka isip ng tama ang mga busdrivers natin. Pagpapahalaga sa buhay ang kailangan.
Drivers need to be re-oriented
If you can look at the road itself, there is a straight line which means this is a No-Overtaking Zone. bakit pinili pa rin ng Bus driver na mag overtake??? kahit na sabihin na regular lang ang takbo nila still mali pa rin ang ginawa niya. There is a lot of stupid drivers out there na basta na lang hina hire ng mga Bus drivers kahit na ang alam lng nila ay magpatakbo ng bus. A very depressing situation on how poor the quality of traffic laws and regulations are imposed in Philippines.
Lost Lives
Oooopppssss... i stand corrected. It should have been 'maximum' and not minimum. Thanks for bringing it up.
Enough is enough
Last year, we have heard so many lives were already lost due to the driver's overtaking mishaps or over speeding. Unfortunately, I've not seen any initiative to do concrete actions to solve or minimize the problem.
This is a tollway post paid road and why don't they build another two-lane roads to remove the existing two-way traffic, and install proper post lights. Besides, we would expect more vehicles passing on this road because the recent opening of the Calamba/Sto. Tomas tollway. Let's help in saving lives!
dapat isipin
Dapat sa driver iniisip ang mga buhay ng kapwa yung hindi sya masasaktan at makakasakip ng kapwa
overtaking is dangerous
Overtaking is a game of "chicken" and its not safe. Rules need to be enforced a lot more to prevent this type of thing from happening
I dont beleive that the bus
I dont beleive that the bus driver did not see the incoming jeep while overtaking the slow car. Napakataas ng position ng upuan nya not to see it. Unless sa kurbada sya umovertake. In these situations, the overtaker is always at fault.
Para sa mga nagcomment na genius.
Magresearch muna bago magbitiw ng salita. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest number of vehicular accidents. Better research parekoy. Wag mo rin ipagmalaki ang sistema ng Saudi dahil in general e balahura sila, Admit it or not. It's the discipline that matters. Admittedly, most drivers in the philippines e kulang nga sa disiplina pero lahat ng bansa merong ganyang klase ng tao. Kaya wag kayo masyado nagmamagaling. Tatalino nyo!
Tsktsk
Car with plate number SFB-447? Sounds like a government plate. On a Sunday??????
On the other hand, yeah, getting driver's license here should be one of Pnoy's priorities in fixing. Sounds negligible but if fixed, will improve road safety.
Whats It Going To Take
I have been on a lot of buses here in Metro Manila and the only time i saw a bus get pulled over is for a SMOG CHECK. I don't think what pollutants coming out the exhaust is as dangerous and the man behind the wheel.
I have seen bus drivers watching the overhead TV while driving, texting and almost get a whip lash look behind behind him checking out a young Filipina.
What the local officials should be doing is having plain cloths policeman get on the bus and observe the drivers performance.
Whats it going to take a high ranking Government official family getting wiped out caused by an inept bus driver?