1 killed, 3 hurt as truck slams into CRV in Batangas

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – One person was killed while three others were injured when a Mitsubishi truck slammed into a Honda CRV along the Diversion Road in the village of Balagtas here on Wednesday morning, the police said. Supt. Manuel Abu, Batangas City police chief, identified the lone fatality as Felomina Dolor, 39, resident of Barangay Pulong Niogan in Mabini, Batangas and one of the passengers on board the CRV. Others injured in the road mishap were Remigio de Mesa, 39; Jocelyn Dolor, 38; and Michelle Tatel, 33, who were rushed separately to the Jesus of Nazareth Hospital and Batangas Regional Hospital after the incident. Initial police investigation said that at about 4:45 am, a Manila-bound Mitsubishi Tractor Head (Plate No. RDT - 270) driven by Jaime de Asis was cruising along the curved portion of the Diversion Road. The truck suddenly turned left and smashed into the Honda CRV car driven by de Mesa which was traveling in the opposite lane. Due to its high impact, police investigator SP01 Arnold Abdon said that the accident destroyed the front and side portions of the car, killing one and injuring the others. In an interview with GMANews.TV, Abdon claimed that driver de Asis "may have fallen asleep" at the time of the incident, which made him decide to turn the truck on the road's opposite lane. Their investigation also revealed that the truck was registered in the name of Tan Trucking Services, whose office address is at Greenhills in San Juan, Metro Manila. "We are advising the general public to take necessary precautions while driving especially at dawn," Abdon said. He said that the police are now readying to file criminal charges of Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Homicide, Less serious physical injuries and damage to property before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office against de Asis. The suspect is currently detained at the Batangas City Police Station. - Marlon Luistro, GMANews.TV