Fourteen people were injured early Saturday morning when a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train collided with a passenger bus at a railway crossing along Maharlika Highway.
According to Nabua police spokesperson Corporal Jonard Bufete, the accident occurred around 3 a.m. when a single-coach PNR “explorer” train hit the bus, causing it to flip onto its side. The train remained on track and was not derailed.
Bufete noted that 13 bus passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries, while the bus driver, though injured, declined medical treatment. Initial investigations revealed the absence of flagmen or warning systems at the crossing, and that the area was poorly lit. The only warning came from the train’s horn, which the driver may not have noticed in time.
The bus, which departed from Pasay City, was en route to Legazpi City, while the train had left Naga City and was heading to Polangui, Albay. PNR clarified that explorer trains are used to clear tracks before main passenger trains pass through.
As of the latest update, the driver is being held at the Nabua Municipal Police Station and is cooperating with PNR representatives. The overturned bus was moved to the roadside to prevent further traffic issues.