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Aug 20, 2010
MANILA – A Filipino-American family of four from Florida who came to the Philippines for vacation were killed, together with 37 others, when the bus they were riding in fell into a ravine in Benguet province Wednesday.
The Filipino-American family from Jacksonville, Florida, who were staying in Sablan for a few weeks, were Frederick and Rose Quinio, their 11-year-old daughter Nicole, and their 7-year-old son Michael. The Quinios were on their way to La Union to visit relatives. They were to go back to Florida two days later, but they met their fate in the bus mishap.
Also among the fatalities was Indian national Albert Anthony, 47, of Baguio, who died while being treated at the hospital. His wife, Carlota, also died in the crash. Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, who was at the crash site, said this was the worst accident so far in the province this year He said the government’s task now was to make sure no more accidents would occur,especially because rains pouring almost daily in the Cordillera have made roads leading to Baguio slippery and dangerous.
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III ordered authorities to conduct a thorough and speedy probe into the bus accident in Benguet province that killed 41 and injured seven others. Initial investigation showed that faulty mechanical wiring caused the bus to fall into a deep ravine in Sablan town, but President Aquino wanted authorities to find other angles that could have possibly led to the crash. “Faulty mechanical brakes really seems to be a lame excuse to me. I want to study how thorough the inspection process are for all of these transports and also the driving skills. In fact, I want to study the entire industry, find out what can be done to improve that particular situation,” he said at the sidelines of the 3rd Philippine International Car Show in Pasay City.
On Wednesday morning, a Unitrans bus traversing Naguilian Road en route to La Union fell into a ravine. Among those killed were two children and a pregnant woman. Those injured were taken at the Baguio City General Hospital. President Aquino has extended his condolences to the victims’ families. The accident is considered as one of the worst bus crash tragedies in 10 years. In 1999, a similar bus accident occurred in Sablan town, an accident-prone area, where 30 persons were killed.