Road mishap leaves 13 dead, 5 injured

MANILA, Philippines — At least 13 people died while five others were injured when the van they were riding crashed onto the back of a truck in Malungon town in Sarangani, police said Friday.
 
Supt. Resty Damaso, spokesman of the Central Mindanao Police, said five of the fatalities
died on the spot due to the strong impact while the eight others succumbed to serious injuries while undergoing treatment in the nearby hospital.
 
In a text message, Damaso identified the fatalities as Liza Cabrido, 45; Renante Ilogsong, 42; Gilbert Constantino, 40; Ricky Magallanes, 32; Arnold Cabrido, 48; Annie Ilogsong, 42; Jane Martinez, 32; Arbie Martinez, 5; Jelyn Magallanes; Alice Constantino; Nikki Constantino; and, Rodolfo Asejo.
 
The injured victims taken to the nearby hospitals are Vic Martinez, 42; Jaymark Martinez, 5; Fe Asejo; Myka Constantino; Leah Magallanes; and, Reniel Ilogsong.
 
Police officer 2 Ricky Salazar, of the Malungon Police, said one of the five injured victims also succumbed to the hospital but said they still have to verify who among them died.
 
Salazar said the van with 19 people on board was on its way to a pastoral meeting at around 5 a.m. on Thursday when the accident happened along the national highway in Sitio Bankerohan in Barangay Bante.
 
He said the truck where the van crashed was parked alongside the road.
 
“The driver of the van (Constantino) might have failed to notice the warning device behind the truck,” said Salazar.
 
“The initial investigation also revealed that the van also appeared to have incurred mechanical problem at the time of the accident,” he added.
 
The strong impact wrecked the front portion of the car and inflicted serious injuries to all the persons on board the van.
 
Damaso said the driver of the truck, 21-year old Eulalio Rivera, surrendered to the local police and was later turned over to the Malungon town police station for investigation.
 
Both vehicles, he said, are now under police custody.
 
Road accidents are common in the Philippines with the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) saying that more than 1,200 people have already died in various parts of the country from January to October this year alone.

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