Bus Plunges Into Zamboanga del Sur Bridge Construction Site; Driver, Passengers Injured

Courtesy: Labangan DRRM Office

A public passenger bus plunged into an active bridge construction site and collided with heavy machinery in Barangay Upper Pulacan on Tuesday afternoon, August 11, 2026, leaving the driver and multiple individuals injured.

Initial investigations conducted by local authorities revealed that the Rural Transit bus, bearing body number 10312, was traveling from Dipolog City en route to Pagadian City. While navigating a steep, downhill mountain pass in Upper Pulacan, the vehicle reportedly experienced a sudden brake malfunction.

Witnesses and social media footage indicated that the bus began moving at a high rate of speed while continuously blasting its horn as the driver desperately attempted to regain control of the vehicle. The runaway bus eventually veered off the main road, crashing straight into the ongoing bridge repair zone where it rammed into a working backhoe.

Emergency responders immediately arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations. The 35-year-old bus driver, who sustained severe body bruises and trauma from the impact, had to be extracted from the heavily damaged driver's cabin and was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency medical treatment.

While some initial police reports noted that several passengers sustained minor cuts and abrasions during the crash, local radio dispatches indicated that the majority of the passengers managed to escape severe harm, though the collision completely shattered the bus's front windshield and crumpled its forward chassis.

The local police has launched a full investigation into the exact mechanics of the vehicle failure and to evaluate safety compliance at the construction perimeter.