A jeepney passenger was killed after a Southern Star bus accidentally rammed him along a street in Clarin town while another man was injured in the same accident at past 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
PO2 Genesis Piezas of the Clarin Police Station identified the victim as Jomarlo Luvidica, 25, of Barangay Tontunan, Clarin.
According to Piezas, Luvidica was hit by the Southern Star bus a few seconds after alighting a passenger jeepney.
Luvidica was travelling from Tubigon to Barangay Caboy, Clarin right before the accident, said Piezas.
The victim reportedly did not notice the bus as it was trailing the jeepney when he got off said vehicle.
The impact led to the victim’s immediate death.
For his part, the Southern Star unit’s driver identified as Rene Gabutan said that he accidentally hit Luvidica as the bus’s brakes were not immediately responsive.
According to Gabutan, there was an incoming vehicle at the opposite lane when he moved past the jeepney causing him to avoid it and head straight towards the victim who was already on the side of the street.
Meanwhile, another man was injured as the bus driven by Gabutan grazed a motorcycle parked on the side of the street.
The owner of the motorcycle Reynante Quijano, 42, of Clarin who was sitting on the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
According to Piezas, Gabutan is now detained at the Clarin Police Station while Luvidica’s family is expected to file charges against him.
The bus unit driven by Gabutan has been released from police custody, Piezas said. (A. Doydora)