THREE people died while four others were injured when the bus they were riding fell into a ditch along the highway the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police said Saturday, September 7.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the fatalities as the following: Gertrudes Baya, 73; Rina Mualam, 14; and, Salma Mualam, 35.

Injured were: Victor Antiampo, 62; Medivina Antiampo, 55; Karim Jarol, 62; and Sapiya Jarol, 62. They were taken to a hospital in Imelda town.

Galvez said investigation showed the bus fell into a ditch around 7:10 a.m. Saturday along the side of the road in Lutiman village, Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay when Noriel Andico, 41, the driver, lost control of the steering wheel as a result of mechanical defect.

The police official said the victims were among the 45 passengers aboard the Lizamay Express Bus, which was traveling from Oluntanga, Zamboanga Sibugay to this city at the time of the accident.

The rest of the passengers were fortunate enough to escape the incident unscathed, she added. (SunStar Philippines)