Bb. Pilipinas titlist, 2 others die in car-bus collision
MANILA, Philippines (5th UPDATE) - A Binibining Pilipinas titlist and 2 other persons died in a vehicular accident in Bula town, Camarines Sur on Saturday morning.
Police identified the victims as Melody Gersbach, 2009 Binibining Pilipinas International; her make-up artist, Alden Orense; and, their driver, Santos Ramos Jr..
Melody landed in the Top 15 of the 2009 Miss International contest held in China. The contest was won by Miss Mexico.
Police said the victim's red Toyota Innova was cruising along a highway in Sitio Banasi, Barangay Pawili when it was rammed by a CG Guevarra bus past 11 a.m..
Initial reports said the bus ran over the beauty titlist's car, ripping off its top, before ramming a tree along the highway.
Gersbach's companion, Ronald Lita, survived the crash. Four bus passengers were also hurt.
Police said the driver of the bus, identified as Wilson de los Santos, has surrendered to the police in nearby Pili town.
De los Santos said the bus' tie rod broke, which is why he lost control of the bus, hitting the Innova.
Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries are being readied against de los Santos.
Gersbach's father, Wolfgang, and her boyfriend, Toti Rocha, immediately went to the local funeral parlor where the beauty title holder's body was brought.
Melody's group came from Legazpi City. She was on her way to meet Rocha in Naga City.
Melody was scheduled to attend the screening of Miss Bicolandia together with her friends.
"Supposed to be, this is the day for the screening of Miss Bicolandia, and she's one of the committee members," said her friend, Jennifer Harris.
Her father arrived at the funeral parlor at past 2 p.m.
"Things like you cannot return, you have to accept. Things you can change, you try to change...She has died and I have to accept," Mr. Gersbach told ABS-CBN News.
Family members said they plan to bring Gersbach's body to their home in Legazpi City.
In a statement, Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. Chairperson Stella Marquez-Araneta expressed her sympathies to the Gersbach family.
"Our sincerest condolences and prayers go out to her family and friends. Her death, unfortunate and untimely, has left everyone at Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. deeply saddened," she said.
"Her passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but also in the hearts of everyone who knew her. Melody's memory will always remain deep within our hearts."
2009 Binibining Pilipinas Universe Bianca Manalo offered her condolences to the family.
“Sa family ni Melody, sobrang condolence po. Tita, kaya nyo yan,” Manalo said. -- Report from Jonathan Magistrado, ABS-CBN Bicol
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Bb. Pilipinas titlist, 2 others die in car-bus collision
Our deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Melody Gersbach, Alden Orense, and Santos Ramos Jr...
You won't stand a chance against a bus...
The Innova did not stand a chance. The bus was just a lot heavier that the Inovva. a typical AUV weighs just arround 1.5 tons, the bus may maybe around 10 tons plus you have to add the weight of the passengers... And not only that, the strongest point on the bus, the chassis rails or frame of the bus is a lot higher to that of the inovva. So when the bus impacted the inovva, it just plowed right through hot knife through butter... It is just a simple common sense. The energy of a 80kph 15 ton bus was transferred to 1.5 ton innova.
Even if you are in a 2.5 ton BMW X5 or in a 3 ton Hummer H2, you won't stand a chance against a 10-15 ton overloaded bus.
Car manufacturers spend millions to research and development, crash testing but no amount safety feature, active or passive can prepare a vehicle which was develop overseas in rich countries will prepare a vehicle in Philippine roads.
Do you really think if you're in a Volvo XC90, you would stand a chance against a 80 kph offset head on collision with an overloaded bus?
See For yourself
The condition should the same more or less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVAw5RCXTqk&feature=related
on how the innova looks like
on how the innova looks like in the picture, its not the bus which we have to blame. it looks like both of them are flying during the collision. But i agree that driving in the philippines is lethal, everyone , even blind can get a driver's license. every car should undergo a regular maintenance and is subject to technical inspection prior to registration( every year here in the middle east). and also NO drunk driving and driving while on drugs should be implemented strictly. Jason Ivler might be right but he is still wrong , IMO.
Very True @tugakbatan
Very true the sad state of Philippine driving culture and can only be blamed at government very wrong public transport system and traffic enforcement. I could have been another Ivler had i have a gun. It happened to me with a bus driver recklessly weaving left and right without regards to safety of other motorists. Very differerent my brother driving in the Philippines failed four times in actual driving test at DMV San Francisco securing just to drive to his RN work. Oh pity Philippines a lot need more to be fixed!
Free for all.
@tugakbatan:
Sadly, you are right. It is free for all out there.
Uneducated Motorists
I can’t Blame Jason Ivler.
I do not condone the killing, but I cannot blame Jason Ivler for hating the Filipino motorists. As mentioned in his rap, he is mad at bus drivers, jeepney drivers, motorcycle drivers, motorized tricycle drivers, and taxi drivers. I do not know about the taxi drivers, because there are not a lot of taxis in the province where I drive.
If you noticed, he did not mention anything about pedestrians, because in the USA the pedestrians always have the right of way. A Filipino driver is particularly mad at the pedestrians. They always want the pedestrians to always give way to the vehicles before crossing. I was almost hit by a car while I was leisurely crossing through the “pedestrian lane”. To add insult to injury, the driver even honk at me. Also one time the driver behind me honk at me for stopping for pedestrians. Silly, isn’t it?
Philippine driving is on a “first come, first served basis”, meaning, the first one to be in position should have the right of way. There are very few traffic signs and traffic lights. One time I stopped at one traffic light, and the motorist behind me honked. He wanted me to pass the red light, because there were no vehicles passing in the other direction.
At night, some vehicles are without headlights, primarily the tricycles. Those that have lights, do not turn them on until it is really dark. Jeepney drivers pick and drop passengers in the middle of the street. Motorcycles overtake you using the ramp. Sometimes one or more vehicles would occupy a single lane. Drivers are typically fond of tailgating. One time while driving at the NLEX expressway (freeway), I was placed in an awkward position on the fast lane. A crazy bus driver tailgated me all the way through until I finally squeezed into the right lane. I followed him all the way through toll gate in Dau, honking and verbally abused him. I even stopped my car when he dropped some passengers, and I continued to swear on him. If I had my gun at that time, I swear to God I would have killed him.
If I had Jason’s demeanor, I would have certainly killed a number of undisciplined and uneducated motorists since I retired in the Philippines 10 months ago. A person can obtain a driver’s license in the Philippines without taking the tests both the written and actual driving. Personally, I had my license without an effort.
I really do not know how long I can take this kind of driving environment. Definitely, the Filipino drivers need to be educated and disciplined.
The carnage continues.
The government needs to get control of this carnage because the bus owners and/or drivers are clearly not. It is obvious that the bus owners are negligent and must be held responsible for these deaths. A heavy fine and jail time should be the punishment for the guilty. It is not acceptable to have this kind of loss of lives this often - buses should not be vehicles of death. Bus drivers must be trained and certified; if they don't pass, they don't drive. Un-announced drug tests must be enforced if necessary. Old buses that are beyond the expected life of service should be taken off the roads. All buses must have scheduled maintenance with a written report signed by a qualified mechanic. Without this written scheduled maintenance report, no permit can be issued to any bus. Dangerous roads with sharp turns, especially going downhill must have guard rails.
Authorities Should Investigate
Innova claimed they have GOA (Global outstanding Assessment Body) How it is true? Authorities should investigate the accident. At what speed does the vehicle could to protect the cabin accupant? Based on thier crash test. Authorities should check the following: SPOT WELDING AREAS, PILLARS COMPONENTS & THE MATERIALS USED (SHEET METAL). HOW COME BODY OF THE VEHICLE GONE? SUPPOSED TO BE/SHOULD PROTECT THE OCCUPANT.
the inovva did not stand a chance!
The Innova did not stand a chance. The bus was just a lot heavier that the Inovva. a typical AUV weighs just arround 1.5 tons, the bus may maybe around 10 tons plus you have to add the weight of the passengers... And not only that, the strongest point on the bus, the chassis rails or frame of the bus is a lot higher to that of the inovva. So when the bus impacted the inovva, it just plowed right through hot knife through butter... It is just a simple common sense. The energy of a 80kph 15 ton bus was transferred to 1.5 ton innova.
Even if you are in a 2.5 ton BMW X5 or in a 3 ton Hummer H2, you won't stand a chance against a 10-15 ton overloaded bus.
Car manufacturers spend millions to research and development, crash testing but no amount safety feature, active or passive can prepare a vehicle which was develop overseas in rich countries will prepare a vehicle in Philippine roads.
Do you really think if you're in a Volvo XC90, you would stand a chance against a 80 kph offset head on collision with an overloaded bus?