‘Freak’ dawn highway accident kills eight in Nasugbu, Batangas

EIGHT people died on Monday after they were hit by a dump truck and buried in thick sand following a “freak” road mishap in Nasugbu, Batangas, police reported on Monday.

The accident happened past 6 a.m. along the national highway at Sitio Lodlod, Barangay Aga, Nasugbu, according to a report of the Nasugbu police.

According to the report provided by the public information office of the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A), the Shacman truck, with plate number NGU- 2433, and loaded with sand, overtook on the road but lost its brakes and rammed a fruit stand on the road’s shoulder.

The truck, owned by WEA Worldwide Ventures and driven by Ben Bryan Constantino, 28, resident of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, was on its way to Nasugbu from Mexico, Pampanga.

Constantino had two companions, helpers Jiar Aranzado, 24, resident of Barangay Balaong, San Ildefonso, Bulacan, and Faustino Cuenco, 23, resident of Barangay Basuit, San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

The report said that the dump truck also hit a color blue Yamaha Aerox motorcycle that was driven by Eduard Ferrer, 42, resident of Block 2, Lot 10, Metroville Subdivision, Barangay Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Likewise, it hit a color Titanium Gray Mitsubishi Xpander GLX with plate number NVF 5726, with seven people onboard, including the driver, Hipolito Sangalang, resident of Barangay Sta. Ana, Calatagan, Batangas.

“While overtaking, it lost its brakes and hit a fruit stand on the left shoulder of the road, and fell on its left side, hitting the motorcycle and vehicle on the opposite side of the road,” the report, provided by the PRO 4A, said.

It said the Mitsubishi vehicle “was covered with sand and all passengers of the vehicle sustained serious injuries and expired.”

A follow up report, also provided by PRO 4A’s public information office, identified the six passengers of the vehicle, who died along with Sangalang, as Amado Santos, 53; Evelyn Santos, 56; Jerson Santos, 26; Jayvee Santos, 24; Catherine Ampo, 24; and four-month-old Candy Santos.

The driver of the motorcycle also died while the driver of the truck and his two helpers sustained injuries.