NINE persons were hurt after a bus and an ambulance of a private hospital collided in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City past 3 p.m. Sunday, October 25, 2020.

Before the accident, the ambulance owned by Chong Hua Hospital was traveling along Gen. Maxilom Ave., while the bus of Ceres Liner had come from Cebu City Hall area and was traveling in J. De Veyra St., bound for northern Cebu.

Staff Sergeant Ryan Perez of the Traffic Patrol Group said the passengers of the ambulance were brought to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City. They were identified as driver Carl Stephen Montenegro, 45; Dr. Daryl Dakay, 32; nurse Princess Tion, 30; patient Antonio Aguirre; and his companion Merlinda Aguirre.

The injured persons from Ceres bus were identified as passengers Princess Besabella; 27, and Ebith Lariosa, 26; bus driver Benedicto Calduzo; and conductor Leoret Sumalinog.

Calduzo and Sumalinog were rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Sumalinog and Montenegro were reportedly in critical condition. Sumalinog was thrown out of the bus during the impact.

Besabella and Lariosa were brought to a private hospital in Mandaue City. Four other passengers were unscathed.

Calduzo said he was not driving the bus very fast along J. De Veyra St. as the traffic signal was still green, he tried to cross Gen. Maxilom Ave. He did not notice the ambulance and its blaring siren.

Calzudo claimed that it was the ambulance that rammed the bus. He said he tried to evade the ambulance. That was why the bus hit an electrical post, he said.

Perez said they will continue to investigate the matter to determine who was at fault. (BBT/KAL)