Two teachers were killed and the tricycle driver was left in critical condition due to a road accident involving a bus and a tricycle in Balanga, Bataan. The witness reported heavy rain that day which made the road slippery. The bus driver failed to slow down near the school area despite unclear signage. The witness called for help and provided testimony to police about the incident. The witness believes clearer signage, traffic enforcement, and first aid training for enforcers could help prevent future accidents.

1. Incident report: 2 dead, 1 critical to the tricycle and
a bus- road accident in Balanga Bataan
It’s a rainy morning of July 21, 2014, exactly 8:00 a.m. at jeep terminal I saw at the news that
classes were suspended. So, I went to my apartment located near at UST. As I enter on my
apartment I called my mom but she didn’t answer. I realized that nobody’s home. So I called
her using my cell phone just to find out that they went to Balanga. From there and then I
packed my things and get ready to go home. I went to bus terminal and luckily I catch up the
bus going to Balanga. The ride is just fine and I feel my eyes to heavy so I slept. Then, after of
almost three hours I know that we are now near to Balanga I saw a signage of slow down school
ahead sign but its not that clear , actually if there’s someone who doesn’t seen this kind of
signage before they will tend to read I as “sow dow- shool head” . I noticed that our driver
doesn’t slow down. I saw a tricycle coming from the school and it seems it didn’t notice the
upcoming bus. Then all of a sudden an impact banged me to the backrest. Then I heard a loud
screech that as if we had dragged something. It’s a kind of screech that will make your head
burst. So when I calm myself I managed to go outside the bus and I scream aloud when I saw a
wrecked human body under the bus. It’s a middle aged man, tan and seems unrecognizable for
his face had been flattened by the wheel. I walked steadily this time and managed to sit down.
The scene seems like a horror film. Aside from the middle aged man there’s a girl inside the
tricycle who’s bloody and seems lifeless. And the guy who seems just late twenties seems
almost dying. I saw a man approaching then he asked me about of what happened so I told him
that the tricycle was from the school and the mini-bus was from the main road exactly across,
the tricycle was dragged. I called my mom and told her what happened. After 10 minutes
ambulance is coming together with a police patrol car. I, the bus driver and the other passenger
of the bus was invited to the police station. We made our testimonies, I and the other
passenger been cleared about the investigation. I don’t know why we have been invited but at
that moment one thing is certain two person were dead on the spot just like what I heard from
the policeman those are both teachers namely Janet Lim Naples 34, and James Estrada 56 ,of

2. Balanga, Bataan. While its driver named is Joe Napoles, 35 years old, of Balanga, Bataan was at
critical condition. That’s why our bus driver named Venny Aquino, 49, of Dinalupihan, Bataan
has been detained.
I thought of that incident over and over that made me realize that The main cause of the
incident was the heavy which made the road slippery and also the negligence of the bus driver
to slow down since it’s near to the school area And maybe the unclear signage at that area.
Theres no more justice for the victims for their lives have been taken, maybe it’s a lesson for
everyone to be aware every time. Sometimes this tragedy has been into my dreams. If ill be one
of the city government official in Bataan I will implement that there should be more signage to
that area and there should be traffic enforcer to that area. Even though that place doesn’t
experiencing heavy traffic, a traffic enforcer guiding the motorist to the right way of driving will
make that area safer and accident free. There should also have a CCTV camera so that if
someone whose not driving properly can easily caught.
I suggest that the traffic enforcers should have knowledge on first aid operation so that in any
incident like this they can help the victims towards its survival.