MULTIPLE-VEHICLE COLLISION LEAVES 12 DEAD, OVER 20 WOUNDED AT SCTEX TOLL PLAZA ON LABOR DAY

BY KEVIN GALANG

AT least 12 people died, including six children, while more than 20 others were injured in a multiple-vehicle collision at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) Toll Plaza in San Manuel, Tarlac City on Thursday, Labor Day.

Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)chief Marvin Guiang said six of the fatalities were children while six others were adults.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said the collision occurred at around 12:18 p.m. Thursday at the SCTEX Toll Plaza northbound lane.

According to the Tarlac police, the vehicles involved were an MPV, a closed van truck, a Sports Utility Vehicle, a van and a Yotung bus.

An initial investigation showed a speeding passenger bus rear-ended a van that was already in line at the toll gate. The impact pushed the van into a compact SUV, which then crashed into a tractor head in front.

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.