Two men died and 11 others were injured after a delivery van collided head-on with a modernized jeep along the national highway in Barangay San Isidro, Paniqui, Tarlac.

According to the Paniqui Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), the van’s driver and his lone passenger were declared dead on the spot. Both were residents of Barangay San Isidro.

The 11 individuals injured included passengers and the driver of the modernized jeep.

PLTCOL Sean Logronio, chief of the Paniqui Police Station, said the van caused the crash after it swerved into the opposite lane.

“‘Yung driver ng Hyundai ay kinain niya ‘yung kabilang lane niya going southbound. Nagkaroon ng collision dun mismo sa lane ng Wheels bus, which is ‘yung southbound. Ang driver ng Wheels ay he tried to evade pa dun sa H100 na van, kaya lang hindi na niya nakayanan kaya nagsalpok sila, head-on collision,” Logronio said.

He added that based on initial investigation, a bystander saw the van overtaking a motorcycle just before the crash.

“Based dun sa initial investigation po natin, may nakapagsabi na bystander na nag-o-overtake siya doon sa isang motor. ‘Yung driver naman ng bus, wala na lang siyang masabi kasi nagulat na lang siya sa bilis ng pangyayari,” he added.

The local government reminded all motorists to stay alert and exercise extra caution to avoid road accidents.