Five people died while nine others were injured after a closed van crashed on the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) in Tarlac City morning on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

Police said the van was traveling in Barangay Balingcanaway when the driver lost control of the steering wheel. The vehicle hit a metal fence before crashing on the roadside.

“Ayon sa driver, bigla po siyang nawalan ng kontrol sa steering wheel na nag-cause para bumangga siya sa metal fence at nag-crash nga po ‘yung van natin,” PLtCol. Rainier Mercado, Tarlac City police chief, said.

The victims were workers from Caloocan on their way to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

Among the dead were some passengers, while the injured, including the driver, were rushed to hospitals nearby.

“This is self-accident po, pero tinitingnan pa rin po namin ‘yung mga naging factors po kaya nangyari po ‘yung aksidente. Kung titingnan mo ang impact, mabilis nasa 80-100 po ‘yung takbo nila,” Mercado added.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.

The families of the victims have yet to release a statement.