TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines — At least three persons died in an accident involving a Canter truck and a sport utility vehicle along the national highway in Barangay Balinsasayao in Abuyog, Leyte on Saturday morning, according to investigator Lt. Edwin Manaog.
A police report identified the fatalities as truck driver Peter Japson, barangay captain of Libertad in Abuyog, and his wife Evelyn, and Toyota Fortuner passenger Ins Malang. The victims were declared dead on arrival by Dr. Caroline Jurnales, attending physician at the Abuyog District Hospital.
Investigation revealed that Japson was driving the Canter truck, bearing license plate WIG 544, with Evelyn and three other passengers from Libertad to Baybay City when the Manila-bound Toyota Fortuner, bearing license plate DAL 9415 and driven by Sala Abusamah, crashed into the truck at around 10:35 a.m.
Responding policemen said Abusamah, a resident of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, was traveling fast and ran into a flooded portion of the road resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle, which encroached the lane of Japson’s oncoming truck.
The other truck passengers were identified as Jerome, Mariel and Perlin, all surnamed Japson, while the other Fortuner passengers were identified as Salahudin Usman, a resident of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and Ian Esmail Aguirre, a resident of Bacoor City, Cavite.
The victims were injured and were brought to Abuyog District Hospital and to Leyte Provincial Hospital for immediate treatment.
Abusamah was brought to Abuyog police station for investigation.