Chinese-Filipino trader, 2 others killed in S. Philippines

Three persons were killed after a car collided with a school bus in southern Philippines on Wednesday, police on Thursday said.

The accident, which happened along a national highway in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur province, also injured one person, according to Superintendent Martin Gamba, police spokesperson for Caraga region where Bislig City is located.

A Hyundai sports utility vehicle driven by Chinese-Filipino trader Romualdo Lim, 60, with three passengers rammed an oncoming bus of the state-owned University of Southeastern Philippines along the Pan-Philippine Highway in Cumawas village around 12:05 a. m., local time.

"The SUV attempted to overtake another vehicle but the driver did not notice the incoming bus traveling in the opposite direction which resulted to the collision," said Gamba, adding the car turned upside down due to the impact.

One of the car's passengers died instantly while its driver and another passenger died upon arrival at a local hospital.

The police spokesperson said the third SUV passenger who was also wounded, is undergoing treatment at the hospital. He said the bus driver is now under police custody and being investigated.

Bad roads, speeding and ill-maintained vehicles have been blamed in most road accidents in the Philippines which according to police estimates, kill at least a thousand people yearly.