Over 30 hurt as passenger bus rams into arch in Benguet-La Union boundary

Benguet, Philippines - Over 30 individuals were injured after the bus they were riding rammed into the arch in Barangay Bilis, Burgos, which marks the boundary of Benguet and La Union.

Initial reports showed that the Scarlette Jayde Transport carrying 41 people, including the driver and conductor, was traveling from Baguio City bound for Candon City, Ilocos Sur when the incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Some passengers attested that the bus driver was not exceeding the speed limit at the time of the accident. He may have lost control of the bus, prompting him to sound the horn before crashing into the arch, as heard by nearby residents.

Due to the impact, those on board were forced forward, with some hit hard.

The bus driver, identified as Hernanie Marquez, 44, and the conductor, named Benjie Heron, 33, were pinned and trapped. It took more than an hour for rescuers to pull them out of the vehicle and get them to safety.

Those hurt were taken to different hospitals in Baguio City and La Union by responders from various agencies.

The final list of injured passengers and the hospitals where they are treated is yet to be released by authorities as they further investigate the incident.

As of this writing, no deaths have been reported due to the accident.