What Happened in the Fatal Three-Vehicle Crash in the Philippines?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Eight fatalities in a three-vehicle crash.
- Injuries to two individuals, one in coma.
- Involved vehicles included a six-wheeler truck and passenger vans.
- Authorities are investigating road safety measures.
- Community in mourning as families cope with their losses.
Manila, July 19 (NationPress) Tragedy struck on the National Road in Barangay San Pedro-San Pablo, Isabela, as eight individuals lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a horrific collision involving three vehicles on Saturday.
The acting spokesperson of Isabela, Captain Terrence Thomas, reported that the crash involved a six-wheeler truck and two passenger vans, which led to the fatalities of eight people and injuries to two others, with one individual remaining in a coma.
The driver of the truck was recognized as October De Leon, a resident of Echague Town, while the passenger vans were operated by Ron Ron Onalan and Oseas Calderon.
Tragically, Calderon was among the deceased, pronounced dead upon arrival at the Cabatuan Family Medical Hospital, as noted by the Manila Times.
The deceased included Niches Heizle Cagayongan, Claribel Maling, and Jing Romboa, while the identities of the remaining four victims are still pending. Reports indicate that all these individuals were in the van operated by Calderon.
The two injured individuals were in Onalan's vehicle, with one in a critical condition.
According to local media, Onalan's van, carrying 16 passengers, was rear-ended by the six-wheeler truck, which had veered into the opposite lane.
In a related incident on July 12, three lives were lost, and a toddler was injured when an SUV collided with a pedestrian and crashed into a nearby house in Sorsogon province, located southeast of Manila, very early in the morning, as stated by local authorities.
The accident occurred at approximately 4:10 am local time in Castilla town, when the SUV traveling south from Manila lost control, as reported by Edgar Ardales from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The vehicle initially struck a 55-year-old man standing outside his home, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Xinhua news agency. It then crashed into a residence, resulting in the deaths of a 21-year-old man and his 20-year-old partner. Their two-year-old child was injured and required hospitalization.
The SUV driver and two passengers suffered minor injuries and were briefly detained by police but were subsequently released following a settlement with the victims' families.