3 dead, 16 hurt in Clark mishap

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga - At least three factory workers died on the spot and 16 others were injured after the jeepney they were riding in crashed into a concrete post along a "haunted" section of Gil Puyat Avenue here last Saturday afternoon.

Ricardo Tumang of the security and traffic management office of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) said he received unverified reports that eight of the jeepney passengers died yesterday.

Only two fatalities have been identified as Janice Hipolito of Barangay San Francisco, Concepcion, Tarlac, and Raquel Galvan of Sto. Domingo, Capas, Tarlac, both employees of Sampo Phils. at the Clark special economic zone. The third confirmed fatality, a male, remains unidentified.

The CDC security and traffic office said the passenger jeepney swerved to the western side of the four-lane Gil Puyat Avenue and hit a concrete electric post.

The accident site has been known as Tatlong Maria, referring to the three tall pine trees on the roadside where superstitious folk believe a "white lady" lives. Past accidents have reportedly occurred at the same spot.

CDC investigators said the passengers of the ill-fated vehicle were all employees of Clark firms who were on their way home.