6 dead, 8 hurt in MacArthur highway crash in Tarlac City

A Suntrans passenger bus crashed into a van carrying 14 along MacArthur Highway in Tarlac City early Sunday morning.

The van’s driver Jemor Bueno, 58, was killed along with five of his passengers: Teresita Basadre, Silvestre Basadre, Lolita Marzan, Andrea Duran, and an 8-year-old named Ermar Cortez.

According to Rida Reyes’ report for GMA 7 news program “24 Oras: Weekend,” the accident took place in Barangay Aguso just after 4 a.m.

The impact was so strong, the victims were flung out of the van, as seen on footage taken by Phel De La Merced, a nearby resident.

The crash disfigured the entire front portion of the van heading north to Tuba, La Union.

The family aboard had just come from a long trip from Bicol to attend a wake.

Rescuers who arrived at the scene were seen in the video pulling out the remaining victims pinned inside the totaled vehicle.

The survivors, some of whom were dismembered, were rushed to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital.

The Cubao-bound bus driver Pepito Dela Luna claimed he attempted to avoid the "speeding" van and was unsuccessful.

Police Inspector Whilhelmino Alcantara, commander of PCP 1, said the 55-year-old driver immediately surrendered and is now under police custody.

Dela Luna faces charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to property.

Families of the victims, who arrived at the precinct to collect their loved ones’ belongings, denied to give any comment. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News