BATANGAS Philippines – Five people, including a teenager, died while two others were injured in a three-vehicle smashup along the national highway in Lipa City before dawn Saturday, police said.
Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director, identified the fatalities as Norberto Vergara, 52; Jose Cuevas, 59; Candelaria Gutierrez, 50; Marilis Guerra, 45; and Harold Reyes, 16.
Injured were Onopre Guerra, 45, and Ester Vergara, 32, who were rushed to the Mahal na Birheng Maria District Hospital in Rosario town and N.L. Villa Hospital in Lipa City, respectively.
Reports said a truck driver and his helper were changing the flat tires of their 10-wheeler truck along the national highway in Barangay Pinagkawitan, Lipa City when a Honda Civic rammed into the back of the truck, killing Vergara and Cuevas on the spot.
The truck driver, identified as Alejandro Rivera, 45, and his unidentified helper escaped after the incident.
A few minutes later, a public utility jeepney driven by Diony Virtusio went wayward and smashed into the back of the stalled Honda Civic, resulting in the death of its passengers – Gutierrez, Guerra and Reyes.
Police are now looking for Rivera and his helper for questioning.