By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO
TARLAC CITY— A five-vehicle collision at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) Toll Plaza Exit in Barangay Bantog here left at least 10 people dead and 37 others injured on Thursday afternoon, May 1.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported that the accident occurred approximately 43 kilometers—or about an hour—from the PRC Tarlac Chapter.
The vehicles involved were a Toyota Velos, driven by Carlo Mojica of San Fernando, Pampanga; a Fao Tractor head, operated by Darwin Cruel of Tondo, Manila; a KIA Sonet; a Nissan Urvan (AAQ-1059); and a Yotung bus (UVK-941), driven by Teodoro Merjan of Malawa, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
According to an initial investigation, the provincial bus was traveling north along the expressway when it collided with stationary vehicles at the Tarlac Exit Toll Plaza.
The impact first struck the Nissan Urvan, triggering a domino effect involving the remaining vehicles.
As of the latest report, 10 individuals have been declared dead at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital, while 37 others sustained injuries.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Tarlac is actively working to extricate individuals still trapped inside the wreckage.
Meanwhile, the PRC Chapter continues to deploy ambulances, led by team leader John Robin Salvatierra.
