Senior Inspector Rogelio Rillon, Dinalupihan police chief, identified the fatalities as tricycle driver Mark de Jesus, 25; Francis Robert Susi, 11 months old; Majahmae Novero, 25; and Aubrey Jane Novero, 19, all of Barangay Mabuco, Hermosa town; and Joan Paule and her husband, Norvin, both night-shift factory workers at the Subic Bay Freeport. All of them died on the spot.
In the first accident, a dump truck smashed into the tricycle driven by De Jesus as it overtook a passenger jeepney at about 6:10 p.m.
Truck driver Jimmy Castro told police he was about to overtake the jeep when the steering wheel stuck and the brakes malfunctioned, sending the truck crashing into the tricycle.
Three hours later and eight kilometers away from the first incident, a Mitsubishi Fuso XLT bearing Subic Freeport workers was rammed by an onrushing Victory Liner bus while it was traversing a curve in Barangay San Pablo.
Due to the strong impact, the left portion of the service jeep was wrecked, killing the newlywed Paule couple on the spot – With Ric Sapnu