A driver of a private car died on the spot reportedly after colliding with a modernized public utility jeepney (PUJ) in Oton town, Province of Iloilo.

The driver of the modernized PUJ was injured along with 13 passengers.

The collision happened in Barangay San Antonio, Oton at 5:45 a.m. on July 6, 2025.

According to police investigation, the private car was moving from Iloilo City on the way home to Barangay Parara Norte in Tigbauan town, driven by 21-year-old alias “Mando.”

However, the car switched to the lane occupied by the modernized PUJ driven by alias “Jet,” 40 years old.

The modernized PUJ plies the San Joaquin-Iloilo City-vice versa route.

“Medyo mabilis ang pagpapatakbo. From sasakyan, tumilapon siya sa backseat, doon na nakuha ng ating responding team,” said Lt. Col. Abner Jordan, chief of Oton Municipal Police Station.

The driver of the car was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced there dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, first aid was administered to alias “Jet” and the 13 passengers who sustained minor injuries.

According to Jet’s statement to the operations manager of the transport cooperative that operates the modernized PUJ, he noticed the car moving in a zigzag motion prior to the collision.

The cooperative conducted a review of the dashboard camera footage on the incident.

“Nag-letter ‘S’ ang kanyang takbo. Syempre dahil umuulan, nabangga niya [car] ang gilid ng aming bus. Ang desisyon, binangga niya [driver ng modernized PUJ] sa poste upang matigil lang ang bus,” Jean Carlos Semic, operations manager of the transport cooperative, said.

Alias “Jet” is yet under the custody of the Oton Municipal Police, as of this writing.

He did not issue a statement on the incident. Alias Jet is awaiting the decision of alias Mando’s family on whether to pursue the filing of charges against him, or not.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to get a comment from his family, but none granted an interview.