Three killed, 17 hurt as truck rams into jeepney in Bataan

Three persons were killed while 17 others were injured after a public utility jeep and a 14-wheel dump truck collided head-on in Dinalupihan, Bataan, police said on Friday.

A Balita Pilipinas report quoted authorities as identifying two of the fatalities as Arman Dacayo, 43; and Norma Sarmiento, 70.

In a separate report on radio dzBB, Chief Inspector Eduardo Guevarra Jr., chief of police in Dinalupihan, identified Arman with the surname Felicitas, while a third fatality was identified as Lorna Espedara.

One of the 17 injured individuals was pregnant, and two others were in critical condition.

Guevarra told dzBB that the mishap happened in Barangay Luacan at 8 a.m.

Initial investigation showed that the truck driver overtook a car that caused the 14-wheeler to slam into the jeepney.

The 14-wheeler was on its way to Olongapo, the jeep, to Dinalupihan town when the two crashed into each other.

The driver and the passengers of the jeepney were brought to different hospitals with the help of  the local government of Dinalupihan.

The truck driver was unhurt and is under police custody.

Guevarra said the Dinalupihan police was preparing to file charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries against the truck driver.

The truck driver explained that the car in front of him was signaling to the right but suddenly stopped instead of turning in that direction.

Because he was going at a fast clip in anticipation of the car turning right, the truck driver said he had no choice but to overtake the car — colliding with the oncoming jeeoney head-on. —Akari Nakano/NB/MDM, GMA News