12 killed in road mishaps

BAUANG, La Union — At least 12 people, including a soldier and his mother and a mother and her five sons, were killed in two separate road accidents here on Tuesday.

In the first mishap, Superintendent Pedro Ubaldo, Bauang police chief, said a 22-wheeler trailer truck smashed into an Isuzu Elf truck at about 1 p.m. after one of its front tires burst along the national road in Barangay Urayong here.

Because of the impact, the Isuzu Elf turned turtle and then rammed a tamarind tree, killing nine of its passengers and seriously injuring three others.

Killed in the accident were Nida Prado, 44, and her five sons — Alvin, 13; Michael, seven; Wilbert, 23; Isagani, 25; and Lester, 31 — their relatives Lito Espiritu, 43, and Dexter Lopez, 19, and their driver, Dario Bandong.

Three other relatives of the Prados — Ronnie, 14, and Joey, 16, both surnamed Prado, and Marjoe Lopez — are in serious condition at the Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City.

Ubaldo said the Prados were on their way home to Barangay Tandoc in San Carlos City, Pangasinan after delivering rubber pots in Naguilian, La Union when they met the tragedy.

The trailer truck’s driver, Loreto Lazo, also suffered injuries and fractures.

Earlier in the day, Ubaldo said a northbound Honda Civic slammed into a mini-bus parked on the roadside in Barangay Pagdalagan Sur also on Tuesday, killing Marine Remegio Sariola, 38, his mother Floretina and aunt Rosita Bautista, all residents of Pitpitac, La Union.

The three fatalities, together with four companions, were on their way home at about 6 a.m. after spending their Christmas holidays in Cavite when they met the accident.

Police said Sariola did not notice the parked mini-bus due to the long, tiring trip.