Baby, 7 others killed in Batangas truck crash
EIGHT people, including a four-month old infant, on Monday were killed after a wayward truck plowed into a sport utility vehicle and a motorcycle in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Police identified the fatalities as SUV driver Hipolito Sanggalang, and his passengers Catherine Joy Ampo, Evelyn Santos, Amado Santos, Jayvee Santos, Jerson Santos, and a four-month-old baby, and motorbike rider Edward Ferrer.
The occupants of the SUV were residents of Bgy. Sta. Ana in Calatagan, Batangas.
An investigation showed the dump truck loaded with sand and driven by Bren Bryan Constantino, 28, with two helpers, lost its brakes while negotiating the national highway in Bgy. Aga in Nasugbu at 4:45 a.m. on Monday.
The truck collided with some fruit vendors on the side of the road, before hitting the SUV driven by Sanggalang and the motorcycle driven by Ferrer on the opposite side of the road.
The impact sent the truck to fall on its side and its load of sand buried the victims under.
Ferrer and the seven occupants of the SUV died on the spot due to severe head and body injuries.
Responding rescuers and the police retrieved the bodies of the victims from under the dump truck and sand.
Constantino and his helpers survived the incident.
The truck driver is now behind bars facing multiple homicide and damage to property charges.
