The driver of the bus, 48-year-old Ben Sarsalejo, a native of Purok 7, Barangay Tanghaligi, Talibon, Bohol, was trying to avoid a motorcycle carrying Atilano Quibedo, 52, and his passenger Rosemarie Villanueva Rotaquio, 60, both residents of Barangay Tubod in the southwestern town of Badian, Cebu.
The incident, which was caught by the closed-circuit television camera in the area, took place around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Barangay Banhigan, Badian.
The victim was identified as Mark Genson Devellares, a resident of Poblacion 1 in the neighboring town of Malabuyoc.
He was declared dead on arrival at the Badian District Hospital.
The injured passengers were identified as Gina and Abegail Vilanoba; Lesttie Devila; Cekito Valle; Nemesia, Dominic, Samson and Sonia Carbonilla; Prince Angelo, Princess Mia and Michael Engelo Amador; Ma. Leah, Mark Laurence, Martina Lhey and Marion Lhot Valle; Reynato Ypon; Hannah Marie Legaspi; Rosalio Lumapac; Romil Geyrozaga; Felix Maque Jr.; and Jonah Ceniza.
Majority of them are from Malabuyoc.
Quibedo and Rotaquio were also hurt when they were thrown off their motorcycle upon impact.
The bus conductor, 31-year-old Cres Pajulas, was uninjured.
The footage showed the motorcycle driven by Quibedo cross the highway from the opposite lane and slowly veer toward the right.
A loud horn sound could be heard before the bus suddenly appeared.
It looked like the bus skidded before it struck the motorcycle and went off the road.
Major James Conaco, station chief, said the motorcycle was headed to the town of Alegria and so was the bus, which was coming from Cebu City.
“The passenger seated next to Sarsalejo said he had been grumbling and swearing since they were in Barili. The passenger also said they were going really fast,” Conaco said in Cebuano.
Sarsalejo was detained at the Badian Police Station. (GPL, PJB)