1 killed, 3 students seriously hurt after van hits overloaded tricycle in Quezon

A tricycle driver was killed while three students were seriously injured early Thursday after an overloaded tricycle they were riding was hit by a van in Quezon province.

The incident occurred at Barangay Viñas in Calauag town at about 6:50 a.m., GMA News correspondent Peewee Bacuño reported.

Citing updated information from town police, Bacuño reported tricycle driver Ruben Divena Gracia, 33, was killed in the collision.


^{Peewee Bacuño}

The students aged 7, 9, and 11 were rushed to the St. Peter Hospital in Calauag.

An initial investigation showed a van (CNN-210) driven by one Subedden Salic, 36, hit the tricycle, which was bringing the students to school. Salic is in police custody.

Risking lives

The incident occurred weeks after Bacuño reported students going to school in Calauag may be risking their lives daily by taking overloaded tricycles.

In several cases, the tricycles go very fast, with their drivers sometimes trying to keep up with bigger vehicles on the national highway.

Barangay police said there is a town ordinance in Calauag barring overloading of tricycles. A tricycle can accommodate up to seven passengers.

But some tricycle drivers said many students come from remote areas and would risk riding an overloaded tricycles.  — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News