Bus-trike collision kills 1, injures 46 in La Union

By Erwin G. Beleo

BAUANG, La Union — A passenger bus rammed into an oncoming tricycle then crashed on a ricefield, resulting in the killing of one person and the injury of 46 others in Barangay Santiago, here, night of |Sept. 29.

Chief Insp. Silverio Ordinado, Jr., La Union police information officer, said the lone fatality in the road accident was one of the occupants of the tricycle with body no. 0582 and conduction sticker no. 0136067.

Ordinado did not identify the fatality, pending the notification of the victim’s family.

He said six of the 46 injured in the accident were in critical condition at the Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City.

Investigation showed that the bus, driven by Michael R. Gatchalian, 40, of San Fabian, Pangasinan, encountered mechanical trouble while cruising the road.

It veered onto the opposite lane and rammed into the oncoming tricycle driven by a certain Ronnie S. Villaluz, 41, of Bauang, this province.

After wrecking the tricycle, the bus swerved and then fell on its side as it crashed onto the ricefield off the road.

Ordinado said most of those injured were passengers of the bus, with Plate No. AWB 509 and registered to Elpidio Munio of Barangay Maria Christina East, Bangar, La Union.

The bus driver, Gatchalian, fled the scene and is now the subject of a manhunt.

Ordinado said he may face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries.