9 youths killed, 18 hurt in La Union road mishap

(Update) What started as a carefree night-swimming session took a tragic turn after at least nine people were killed while 18 others were injured as the victims' jeep hit a trailer-truck in La Union province before dawn Wednesday. Initial police reports indicated that the mishap occurred at 4 a.m. at Bauang town in La Union as the youths were on their way home to La Trinidad in Benguet. Most of the fatalities were minors, television and radio reports said. Victims were rushed to the Ilocos Training and Medical Center in La Union. Two of the fatalities there were identified as Lea Bastian of La Trinidad; and William Alex, 18, of La Trinidad. Two other fatalities, meanwhile, were taken to a nearby morgue. Among those confined at the medical facility were Rona Liza Javier, 15 (orthopedic ward); Christine Valenciano, 17 (surgery ward); Lorena Bastian, 15, Lea's sister; Maida Pamaro, 18; Hazel Antonio; Manilyn Sapitula; Arnel Marino; Dondon Rodel (orthopedic); Clevor Morales (surgery); Reynaldo Anuran of Benguet; Jingle Bumacas; Frankie Matthew (ICU-surgery); Genevie Bumacab; Jason Valenciano; and Ramon Marino. "Most suffered head injuries. Some were rushed to the intensive care unit. We cannot give a comprehensive assessment at this time. But many of them suffered serious injuries while some of them suffered minor cuts," Sonny Madrid of the medical center's emergency room said in Filipino during an interview on dzRH radio. Superintendent Pedro Ubaldo Jr, Bauang police director, cited initial witnesses' testimonies indicating the jeep was speeding and "crisscrossing" before hitting the trailer truck. He told dzRH radio that the driver of the truck, whom he did not immediately identify, surrendered to police. Many of the youths, Ubaldo said, "smelled of alcohol" and that many liquor bottles were found in the jeep, which was wrecked in the crash. He said his men have het to identify all of the nine confirmed fatalities. "The youths came from La Trinidad at 6 p.m. of Tuesday for night swimming at a resort. They decided to return to La Trinidad before dawn," he said in Filipino. Ubaldo said the jeep apparently lost control 100 meters before impact. He said witnesses described the jeep as "super-bilis (super-fast)" when it hit the trailer. He said the jeep was a total wreck, with two of its wheels flying off and its roof sheared off. When asked about the road conditions, he said the road where the accident occurred was "patag" (level). "It was an accident. The jeep lost control. The youths came from night swimming and some of them reeked of liquor. We found some bottles of liquor in the jeep," he said. - GMANews.TV