Christmas Day tragedy: 20 dead in road collision
It’s a tragic Yuletide for the families of 31 people, including a five-month-old baby, who died in road mishaps in Luzon and Mindanao yesterday.
In Agoo, La Union, 20 individuals including a baby died while 26 others were injured when a passenger jeepney collided head-on with a Partas bus along the national highway at around 3:30 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Nineteen people including seven children were declared dead on arrival at the La Union Medical Center (LUMC) while another passenger died at the Ilocos Training and Regional Center in San Fernando City.
Sixteen passengers of the bus, including its driver Rodel Sadac, and nine other passengers of the jeepney were rushed to the Agoo Family Hospital for treatment. Among the 20 fatalities
Pepito Antolin, Virgie Antolin, Mark Jerson Cabrero, Cecilia Cabrero, Johnny Cabradilla, Chita Cabradilla, Florence Cabradilla, Vicky Antolin, Adela Antolin, Hanna Ramirez and Claudine Cabradilla.
The jeepney driver, Rolando Perez, was among those declared dead on arrival at LUMC.
Chief Insp. Roy Villanueva, Agoo police chief, said the fatalities were on their way to Manaoag, Pangasinan to hear mass.
Villanueva, quoting survivors, said the jeepney driver allegedly tried to overtake another vehicle but miscalculated the distance of the oncoming Partas bus which was speeding.
Police are trying to identify the remaining casualties and those injured.
Other deaths, probe
In Roxas, North Cotabato, eight commuters were killed while 10 others were injured when a jeepney plunged into a cliff.
The driver of the jeepney reportedly lost control when its brakes malfunctioned while he was maneuvering through a downhill stretch of a highway.
Witnesses said the jeepney first wiggled from left to right before it fell, rolled over thrice and landed on its side.
Supt. Bernard Tayong, spokesman for the North Cotabato provincial police, said those injured were rushed to hospital by responding barangay officials and personnel of the municipal police.
Meanwhile in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, at least three persons were killed and five others wounded when their sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into a parked truck on Christmas Eve.
Killed in the crash were Romel Adante, Rolly Arzadon and Jovani Partosa.
Injured were Reden Alvarez, Kid Mark Limbaga, Ryan John Salvador, Arcid Jairun and Maeverick Bagtasos, all employees of Aleson Shipping Lines and residents of Zamboanga City, said Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, spokesperson for Police Regional Office 9.
Galvez said the victims were on board their Hyundai Tucson bound for Ipil when they met the accident at about 4 p.m. last Sunday along the highway in Tungawan.
The victims were rushed to the Ipil Provincial Hospital for treatment but Adante, Arzadon and Partosa were declared dead on arrival.
Galvez said both vehicles were impounded at the Tungawan police while investigation continued to determine the culpability of the drivers.
For its part, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has called for a hearing on the fatal crash in La Union.
LTFRB spokesperson Aileen Lizada said they would issue a show cause order on Partas Transportation Co. Inc. for a hearing on Jan. 3.
Lizada said there was no outright sanction on Partas as she cited initial reports which pinned the fault on the jeepney driver.
The private jeepney was not covered by passenger insurance mandated by the LTFRB.
“The LTFRB will try to talk to Partas and see what they can do,” Lizada said, adding that the bus company was under no obligation to pay for funeral cost or damages.
Third Party Liability could be given by Partas to the victims, but this comes as a lump sum of P100,000 for all parties, Lizada said.
The board would also look into the accident in North Cotabato as the jeepney was covered by LTFRB rules.