18 hurt in Batangas tollway mishap

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Eighteen persons were injured in a road accident involving five vehicles along the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway in San Jose town, Batangas yesterday morning.

The drivers of a trailer truck (TYU-353) and a Dimple Star bus (TYN-700) were listed in critical condition at the Mary Mediatrix Hospital where they were taken along with 16 others, said  Chief Inspector Oliver Ebora, San Jose police chief.

Ebora said the accident occurred at around 5 a.m. in Barangay Lapu-Lapu involving a trailer truck, two buses of Dimple Star Transport, a Ceres bus and a jeepney loaded with fruits and vegetables.

He said the truck developed engine trouble causing its driver identified as Alberto Orlin to lose control of the wheel.

The truck collided with the jeepney before hitting the three buses. The jeepney and the buses were heading for Manila while the truck was going to Batangas.

Seven of the victims were jeepney passengers while the rest were bus passengers. – With Arnell Ozaeta