Lingle caravan bus hits young girl in Philippines

The girl suffered only minor injuries in the crash

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines » A bus carrying members of Gov. Linda Lingle's delegation to the Philippines hit a young girl crossing the highway near San Fernando in La Union province north of Manila.

The girl apparently suffered only minor injuries to her face and shoulder.

The bus was the last of four buses in a convoy escorted by police. Gov. Lingle was traveling in a separate car near the front of the convoy and did not see the accident.

The incident occured at about 9:30 p.m. Hawaii time, 3:30 p.m. Manila time as the delegation was traveling by road from Vigan in Ilocos Sur to Dagupan in Pangasinan province.

Witnesses on the bus said the girl ran across the north-bound lane of the two lane-highway and was hit by the bus which was traveling south.

The bus had apparently fallen behind most of the group and was following a police car and appeared to be trying to catch up, witnesses said.

A police car following behind the bus took the girl to a local hospital.

Tony Soria, a tour guide on the bus, told passengers the girl, who appeared to be 9 or 10 years old, was okay and just required a few stiches. He said the girl was being kept at the hospital overnight for observation.

The bus driver went with police to the hospital and a new bus driver continued on the journey to Dagupan.

The incident did not affect Gov. Lingle's schedule, which included a dinner with Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani and the signing of a sister state and province nursing inititive with Virgen Milagrosa University at the governor's residence. A concert with Jasmine Trias and Tihati's Polynesian Review is scheduled to follow.