A three-vehicle crash in Aurora, Isabela left nine people dead and several others injured.

According to police, a six-wheeler truck veered into the opposite lane on the national highway in Barangay San Pedro San Pablo at around 2:45 a.m. on July 19, 2025.

The truck first collided with a van and then dragged a second van before slamming into the side of the road.

Closed circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the truck swerving into the oncoming lane, crashing into a white van, and then ramming a second van. Both vehicles were headed toward Kalinga, while the truck was on its way to deliver hardware supplies in Alicia, Isabela.

Initial reports confirmed the deaths of eight passengers in the second van, all from Tabuk City.

Later, authorities confirmed a ninth fatality, a priest who had been rushed to the hospital after the crash.

“‘Yung pang-siyam na napaulat din na pumanaw, itong lulan din ng isang vehicle 2, napag-alaman nung habang nilalapatan ng lunas sa isang ospital kung saan una siyang itinakbo, na-declare po na kalauna’y pumanaw po,” PCpt. Terrence Tomas, spokesperson of the Isabela Provincial Police Office, said.

Tomas said the truck driver tested negative for alcohol and did not report feeling sleepy at the time of the incident.

“Base po sa panayam natin sa kaniya ['yung driver ng truck], hindi naman daw po siya inantok, at the same time, ay nag-undergo din siya ng alcoholic breath test after nga po noong insidente. Katunayan noong magtamo siya ng minor injury, dinala sa ospital at nag-negative naman po siya sa alcoholic breath test,” he said.

The driver of the truck is now in police custody and faces multiple charges.

The Isabela Police Provincial Office extended condolences to the families of those who died and reminded the public about the importance of road discipline.