A motorcycle passenger was killed after the vehicle which was driven by a foreigner was sideswiped by an overtaking Southern Star bus along Bantol Street, Barangay Dampas, Tagbilaran City.
The accident which happened at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday resulted in the death of Rose Perez Balongga, 32, and injury of the motorcycle’s driver, 69-year-old Mark Wilkins, an American living in said barangay.
Based on police investigation, the motorcycle was travelling from the Integrated Bus Terminal when the Ceres bus with body number 12199 and driven by Luciano Tiu Jr., 45, attempted to overtake.
As the bus accelerated and moved alongside Wilkins, it reportedly hit the side of the motorcycle causing it to crash and Balongga to be thrown away from the motorcycle and run over on the stomach.
Balongga was then rushed to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City but was declared dead on arrival.
Wilkins sustained cuts and several bruises while Tiu voluntarily surrendered to the Tagbilaran City police.
A case of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and physical injury will be filed against Tiu.
The incident was the second accident involving a Ceres bus in 2017 and ninth in just over a year. (Weli Maestrado)