16 hurt as bus overturns after hitting SUV in Misamis Oriental

MISAMIS ORIENTAL — A police officer and 15 others were injured Tuesday morning after a passenger bus veered into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a sport utility vehicle along the national highway in Barangay Quezon, Gitagum, Misamis Oriental.

Police identified the officer as Police Master Sgt. Efren Talle Jr., who was driving a Suzuki Ertiga with five family members when the collision occurred in Purok 5.

Talle sustained a severe foot injury, while his family members escaped unharmed.

At least 15 people aboard the Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) bus, including its driver and conductor, were taken to the OWWA Hospital in Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, for treatment.

Initial reports indicated that the bus was traveling from Cagayan de Oro City to Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, while the SUV was heading in the opposite direction.

Upon reaching a curved section of the highway, the bus reportedly swerved into the opposite lane and slammed into the SUV.

The impact caused the bus to overturn, trapping passengers inside, while the SUV was severely damaged.

Rescue personnel pulled the trapped passengers from the overturned bus and rushed the injured to the hospital.

Police are investigating the cause of the collision.