By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO
Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija — A business owner and his relative died when a provincial bus plowed into their roadside canteen while they were asleep in Barangay Santo Rosario here, Wednesday morning, August 13.
The victims, known only by their aliases Eddie and Rock, both aged 56, were inside Edcel Lutong Bahay canteen on Santa Rosa–Tarlac Road when the incident occurred around 1:00 a.m.
According to initial police reports, a provincial bus with plate number NBC 5220, driven by alias Edgardo, was heading to Santa Rosa town proper when it allegedly lost control.
The bus swerved left, striking a parked dark blue Nissan Vanette (XHR 798), before crashing into the canteen.
The impact fatally injured the two occupants inside the establishment.
All three—the victims and the bus driver—were rushed to Nueva Ecija Doctors Hospital. Eddie and Rock were declared dead on arrival, while the driver remains in critical condition due to a severe head injury.
Authorities are still assessing the extent of damage to both the canteen and the vehicles involved.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
