Man dies, 3 American women hurt in mishap

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - An employee of a shipping firm was killed and four others, including three American women, were wounded when their vehicles collided along the Subic-Tipo Expressway last Wednesday afternoon.

Freeport authorities identified the fatality as Jon-Jon Obusan, an employee of American President Lines, and the wounded Americans as Jodi Strohl, Judy McQuiston and Jennifer Roche, all from Honolulu, Hawaii. The three women suffered minor bruises and contusions.

Conrado Padilla, who was driving the L-300 van carrying the three Americans, underwent minor surgery and was declared out of danger.

According to initial investigation, Obusan's Toyota Corolla skidded and slammed into the van of the three Americans who were on their way to the freeport to bid farewell to the crew of the USS Ashville, a nuclear-powered submarine which made a port call at the former US naval base.

Minutes after the mishap, five personnel of USS Ashville, in their white uniforms, arrived at the scene to assist the three American women.

Meanwhile, USS Ashville, with 12 officers and 98 crewmen, ended yesterday their six-day visit to the country under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

"We enjoyed our stay here. We did not experience any troubles and in fact, we were able to help out local communities in some projects during our stay here," said Capt. Kerry Ingall, the submarine's commander.