CRUSHED. One of the ill-fated vehicles following a multiple-vehicle crash at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza in San Manuel, Tarlac City. The collision left at least 20 people dead. Photo courtesy of PH RED CROSS
Multiple-vehicle collision leaves 12 dead on SCTEX
TWELVE persons died while more than 20 others were injured in a multiple-vehicle collision at Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza in San Manuel, Tarlac City yesterday, Labor Day, the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said.
Tarlac PDRRMO chief Marvin Guiang said six of the fatalities were children while six others were adults.
According to the Tarlac police, the vehicles involved in the accident were a Toyota car being driven by Carlo Mojica, of Panipuan, San Fernando, Pampanga; a trailer truck driven by Darwin Cruel, of Tondo, Manila; a Kia with driver and passengers still unidentified; a Nissan with driver and passengers still unidentified; and a passenger Yotung bus driven by Teodoro Merjan, of Malawa, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Initial report showed the vehicles were on full stop at the Tarlac exit toll plaza when the approaching bus rammed the Nissan SUV.
Due to the strong impact, the Nissan hit the Kia, which then struck the truck.
The occupants of the vehicles and passengers of the bus sustained injuries and were rushed to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital.
“As of the latest report, 12 individuals have been declared dead by the Tarlac Provincial Hospital while more than 20 others sustained injuries,” responding members of the PDRRMO Tarlac and the Philippine Red Cross said.
“The PDRRMO Tarlac is currently carrying out extrication efforts for passengers who remain pinned inside the vehicles,” they added.
