-
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/6 Oct) – A bus skidded off a rain-slicked highway before noon today in Montawal town in Maguindanao and turned upside down, injuring 27 passengers, eight of them serious, police reports said.
The incident happened just a day after a mini-bus plunged into a 30-foot cliff along the highway in the municipality of President Roxas in neighboring North Cotabato province, injuring 23 passengers.
Bus driver Adam Abuan, 50, said he was driving slowly, about 40 kilometers per hour, when he reached the asphalted highway in Barangay Pagagawan in Montawal.
“But the road was very slippery after it rained and I lost control of the vehicle,” said Abuan.
He said the brand new Sophia III air-conditioned bus was running in good condition.
According to bus conductor JP Abellana, the vehicle was not fully loaded as it carried only 44 passengers; it has a maximum capacity of 54.
The bus was heading towards Cotabato City from Davao City. (Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews)
