By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least one person was killed, while three others were injured, after the bus they were riding crashed while enroute to Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Thursday morning.

Police identified the fatality as 56-year-old Vangiline Brasona, a resident of Barangay Laga-an in the said town. Meanwhile, the injured were identified as Maricel Libod-libod, Angela Trinidad, and Carolina Maloloy-on, also residents of the said town.

Calatrava Municipal Police Station traffic investigators said the bus, which was being driven by 40-year-old Jessie Ogabang of Toboso, was approaching a descending curved road and, instead of slowing down, sped up, resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle.

The bus subsequently hit a road barrier, throwing the three injured victims out of the vehicle; while the force of the impact fatally injured Brasona, who was later declared dead on arrival after being transported to a hospital in Bacolod City.

Ogabang voluntarily surrendered to the Calatrava Municipal Police Station following the incident.

Authorities have yet to charge the bus driver as they are still awaiting a decision from the victims if they will press charges or agree to a settlement./DGB, WDJ