By Edwin O. Fernandez
TACURONG CITY, Aug 30 (PNA) — About eight persons were killed and more than a dozen others hurt when a loaded passenger jeepney collided with a 10-wheeler truck along a major highway here Sunday afternoon, police said.
Senior Supt. Junny Buenacosa, Tacurong City police director, said the incident happened at past 4 p.m. along the Tacurong City and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat highway.
Several passengers died on the spot while others expired while undergoing medication at a hospital here.
“The accident happened near AJC Montilla village, and some passengers were rushed to the hospital, some died on the spot, while passengers were rushed to the hospital,” Buenacosa told DXND Radyo Bida.
Some of the victims were rushed to Sultan Kudarat Doctors’ Hospital in Tacurog City.
Among those who died on the spot was the driver of blue Toyota Town Ace passenger vehicle.
Police are now in custody of the driver of 10-wheeler truck who is resident of Tacurong City.
Buenacosa said two versions were being considered by accident investigators and the number of fatalities could go higher.
Buenacosa, quoting traffic investigation reports showed that one of the back tires of the hauler truck exploded in motion causing the vehicle to swerve and went to opposing lane.
Another version was that the driver of the passenger van, according to some survivors, fell asleep that led to the vehicles slowly turning left and smashed an on-coming cargo truck.
“Many versions have come out, we are still investigating,” Buenacosa said as he led his men in rushing the victims to the hospitals while other police officers man the traffic.
A fire truck was seen in the area along with ambulances and Rescue Vehicles of Isulan and Tacurong City. (PNA)