Three people were killed and 10 others injured in a three-vehicle collision involving a passenger jeepney, a dump truck, and a motorcycle along the National Highway in Barangay Mambabanga, Luna, Isabela, on Wednesday morning, January 21.
Police identified the fatalities as John Rey Mendoza, 19, a third-year college student and resident of Barangay Del Pilar, Cabatuan; Mario Dela Cruz, 61, of Barangay Harana, Luna, who was on his way to a dialysis treatment; and Josephine Domingo, a resident of Barangay Sampaloc, Cabatuan, who was supposed to celebrate her birthday today.
The injured victims were identified as Federico Bangayan, the jeepney driver and resident of Barangay Sampaloc, Cabatuan, and his passengers: an 85-year-old senior citizen from Barangay Barumbong, Santo Tomas; a 25-year-old pregnant woman from Barangay Magdalena, Cabatuan; a 69-year-old senior citizen from Barangay Saranay, Cabatuan; a 19-year-old woman from Barangay Daramuangan Norte, San Mateo; a 50-year-old woman from Barangay Harana, Luna; a 24-year-old man from Barangay Culing West, Cabatuan; a 36-year-old married man and his one-year-old son, both residents of Barangay Sampaloc, Cabatuan; and a 26-year-old motorcycle rider from Quezon, Isabela.
All victims were rushed to nearby hospitals in Cauayan City for medical treatment.
Police Major Jonathan Ramos, chief of the Luna Police Station, said the accident occurred around 9:00 a.m. when a white dump truck, driven by Edgar of Cauayan City, reportedly lost control while attempting to stop on the slippery road.
The truck encroached into the opposite lane and slammed into a white-and-orange jeepney (BVT 433) driven by Federico, Isabela, which was carrying 11 passengers.
A black Honda Click motorcycle, operated by Kevin, trailing the jeepney, was also struck in the collision.
The impact was so strong that the jeepney’s roof was torn off, throwing passengers onto the road.
Three were declared dead on the spot, while 10 others sustained varying injuries.
The dump truck driver escaped unharmed.
Isabela Police Provincial Director Col. Manny Bringas immediately dispatched rescue units and police responders to provide first aid, transport victims, and secure the crash site.
Traffic flow was managed as investigators from SOCO Cauayan City conducted a technical examination of the vehicles.
All vehicles involved suffered heavy damage and were brought to the Luna Police Station for proper disposition.
The dump truck driver is currently detained as authorities continue their investigation into the incident. (Liezle Basa Inigo, Freddie G. Lazaro)
