BY: VANESSA BUGTONG

Thirty-eight individuals were injured when a passenger bus overturned in Barangay Poblacion, Burgos, La Union, around 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 26.

According to police investigations, the bus was descending from Baguio City when the driver experienced brake failure.

“The passenger bus was going downhill. As we know, our road is descending. Upon reaching the place of the incident, the driver felt that the brakes were not working. Accordingly, he said the engine died, and the brakes failed,” explained Police Major Renato Gacad, Chief of Police at Burgos Police Station.

In an attempt to stop the vehicle, the driver steered the bus towards the side of the road.

“He had no other option but to steer towards the side of the road. Unfortunately, it hit a wall, which is part of the church’s perimeter. It wasn’t a full wall but more like a roadside barrier. Then it struck a telecom post, causing the bus to overturn,” Major Gacad added.

The injured passengers, including the driver and conductor, sustained various injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals.

Five individuals suffered severe injuries and were transferred to larger medical facilities for further treatment.

The Burgos PNP noted that the area is prone to accidents due to its steep descent.

This incident marks the second bus-related accident in the area this April.

On April 24, another bus collided with an archway, resulting in one fatality among the 40 passengers on board.