Cauayan City, Isabela (30 October) -- Eight passengers, including a nine-month old baby, while twenty seven were injured when two vehicles plying the national road between the boundary of barangay Cabaruan and Tagaran involving a passenger bus and two pick-ups collided near an approach of Tagaran bridge.

Initial police investigation revealed that a Dagupan Bus bearing plate number AHV 765 with body number 168 from Metro Manila bound for Tuao, Cagayan made a head-on collision to a Toyota Hilux with plate number AEV 350 and an slightly damage Isuzu pick-up bearing plate number ZJD 377 bound for Cauayan City.

The lone rider of Toyota Hilux pick-up was pronounced dead-on-the spot while the riders in the Isuzu pick-up bore slight injuries and were brought to Cauayan City Medical Specialist.

One driver, Rolando Abarabar of Dagupan Bus was injured while the other identified as Freddie Agustin was pronounced dead while undergoing emergency treatment in a hospital here.

The passenger bus, after making collision with the two pick-ups, rammed onto the bridge's railings and fell down under the Tagaran bridge and creek of about 70 feet from the bridge that killed eight passengers and injured twenty seven.

The injured passengers were brought to the Cauayan City District Hospital, Cauayan Medical Specialist Hospital and Ester Garcia Hospital.

Philippine National Police members from the Cauayan City Police Station, Provincial Mobile Group based here, city rescue team from Bureau of Fire Protection and from Public Order and Safety Unit including city health personnel, composite team from the army based here made a unified and immediate rescue efforts to the victims.

Meanwhile, hours after the tragedy, the provincial government sent its disaster officials in the area and made an assessment of the situation especially to the victims.

Governor Grace M. Padaca said that he has sent officials from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and vowed to help the victims both the dead and injured in terms of providing immediate recovery to the injured victims.

As an initial aid, the provincial government has provided food and clothing to the injured while they are confined in the hospital.