Van rolls over on NLEX; 5 dead, 9 injured

MANILA, Philippines — Five people died while 9 others were injured in an accident along the northbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)  in Apalit, Pampanga yesterday.

Police said the victims, who have yet to be identified, were in a van that rolled over after it crashed into an Elf truck when one of its tires burst along the Candaba viaduct at around 12:18 p.m.

Cesar Carlos, municipal disaster risk reduction and management chief, said the injured were taken to various hospitals.

The driver, identified as John Leo Laylo, 28, was arrested.

A report on news.abs-cbn.com quoted Inspector Elmer Decena of the Apalit police as saying that nine passengers of the Hyundai van were thrown off the vehicle and fell into a residential area in Barangay Tabuyuc.

The victims were reportedly on their way to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga for an evening flight.

Traffic on NLEX from Pulilan, Bulacan to San Simon in Pampanga were snarled due to the accident.

In Batangas, Joselyn Aguila died in a nine-vehicle smashup in Barangay Tambo, Lipa City also yesterday.

Initial investigation showed a cargo truck rammed the vehicles, including the tricycle that Aguila was riding, when its  brake malfunctioned.

Aguila, who was thrown off the vehicle due to the impact of the crash, was hit by the truck.

The truck driver, Dindo Organo, was arrested. – With Romina Cabrera, Arnell Ozaeta