Two members of the Philippine Marines and at least 24 others were injured when a Dumaguete-bound Ceres bus collided with a 10-wheeler truck at a curve along the national highway in Brgy. Palaka, Valladolid town, Negros Occidental, at about 8 last night.

Senior Insp. Rico Santotome, Valladolid PNP chief, yesterday told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview, the Ceres bus with Plate Number FWA-995 driven by Edwardo Docto slammed into a cement delivery cargo truck driven by Rhandy Tanodra Cornel of Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City.

Santotome said the 10-wheeler truck was observed to be racing with two other vehicles on its way to Bacolod City before it collided with the bus loaded by at least 40 passengers.

He said members of the 5th Philippine Marine Battalion based in Patikul, Sulu led by Private Tommy Alpas were among those injured. Rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital were Philippine Army Private First Class Edgar Ardamoy, 26, of La Paz, Iloilo and Private Bryan Tambu-on, 21, of Caticlan, Malay, Aklan. They were later transferred to the Bacolod Sanitarium and Hospital while three of their companions Private Alpas, Bañaco and Sanogal were unaccounted for as of press time.

Also rushed to the CLMMRH were Randy Lornel, Bendicto Salazar, 42, of CAC Village, Brgy. Batuan, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Super Radyo reported.

Brought to the Bacolod Doctors' Hospital were Ceres driver Eduardo Docto, 45, married, of Brgy. Bulao, Cauayan, and passengers Arell Loquez, 21, single, of Sibulan, Negros Oriental, Rosie Palma, 21, of Talaban, Himamaylan City, Vincent Estorba, 24, of Boloc-boloc, Sibulan, Sandra Española, 21, of Crossing Pontevedra, and pharmacist Jean San Agustin. Rushed to the Riverside Medical Center were June Brasca, 40, of Dumaguete City and Evangeline Segovia, reports said.

Teddy Narbasa, 32, single, of Reclamation Area, helper of the 10-wheeler truck was rushed to the Bacolod Doctors' Hospital but was later transferred to the Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital, Super Radyo reported.

Also brought to the Valladolid District Hospital with minor injuries were Jolie Marciliana, of Tagukon, Kabankalan, Leonardo Tingson, of Bagumbayan, Valladolid, Vicente Valiente, of Binalbagan town, Liezel Gayanilo, of Payao, Binalbagan, Mel Guides, of Goldenfields Commercial Complex, Bacolod City, Daisy Mae Gantalao, of Lumbangan, Mabinay, Noel Bolao, Aguisan, Himamaylan City, Magtinghua family, Bonie, Mellisa, Elenita and Elorde, police reports said.*DMG

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