3 dead as jeep collides with truck in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines — Three people were killed when the passenger jeep they were riding collided with a 10-wheeler truck in Batangas province Tuesday evening, a radio report said. Radio dzBB’s Louie Garcia quoted Batangas provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchallian as saying that the collision took place along the National Highway in the part of Brgy. Biliran in Nasugbu town. Gatchallian identified two of the three fatalities as Cherry Ann Salazar and Delia Sobreo. They, along with the still unidentified victim, were brought to Apacible Memorial Hospital. Initial investigation showed that the passenger jeep (DXA 300), driven by one JP Gatdula, was heading toward Nasugbu town proper when it collided with the truck (CTW 611), which was allegedly about to counter-flow. Apart from the three fatalities, several people were also injured, including two truck passengers, the report said. Gatchalian said some of the casualties were brought to the Nasugbu Doctors Hospital for treatment. Authorities are still verifying reports that the truck's driver, one Roderick Cambalisa, was drunk when the accident happened. The driver escaped shortly after the accident. - Aie Balagtas See and Marlon Luistro, GMANews.TV