3 die as bus topples amid strong storm in Isabela

By Halee Andrea Alcaraz

NAGUILIAN, Isabela – Two passengers died in a bus accident here Tuesday morning,  just over an hour after Typhoon Florita made landfall in Maconacon town, Isabela.
    The Victory Liner bus traveling to Sampaloc, Manila, toppled over and hit an electric post along the national highway in Barangay San Manuel while it was pouring rain around 11 a.m.
    “The bus was traveling south from Tuguegarao City when the incident happened, Maj. Jurneil Perez, chief of Philippine National Police - Naguilian, said in an interview with 98.5 i-FM Cauayan.
    The bus driver, who was identified as Jerome, said he was not able to control the brake, resulting in the vehicle toppling over during heavy rain caused by the severe tropical storm.
    Meanwhile, the electric post hit by the bus is currently being fixed by personnel from Isabela II Electric Cooperative.
    The bus was carrying six passengers, one driver and one conductor, according to witnesses.
    All of them were brought to the nearest hospital for treatment.
    Naguilian police confirmed two of the passengers were declared dead on arrival.