One dead, forty hurt in Bais road mishap

One commuter was killed while 40 others were injured after the passenger jeepney they were riding fell on its side in a freak accident early Tuesday in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

An initial report from the Bais City police identified the lone passenger who died on the spot as a certain Dominador Manila, 38, married, and a resident of Sitio Uway-Uway, Barangay Lonoy of Bais City. Those who suffered serious injuries were rushed to the hospitals in Bais City and Dumaguete City while many more passengers also sustained slight injuries, bruises and scratches from the said accident Among the passengers were an 11-month-old baby and an 85-year-old female, the police said. A police report said that around 7 a.m., the passenger jeepney was ascending the Bais-Sab-ahan road when its engine suddenly conked out.

The vehicle then rolled backwards about 20 meters on a steep slope before it hit the cliff and turned on its side, said Chief Insp. Carlos Lacuesta, police chief of Bais.

The Bais-Sab-ahan stretch forms part of the long and winding road that leads to Mabinay and Kabankalan in Negros Occidental. The driver of the passenger jeepney, identified as a certain Junjun Palomar, of legal age and a resident of Tabuac, Bais City, has surrendered to the police. (PNA)