5 killed in Tarlac expressway road crash

MANILA, Philippines — Five people were killed while nine others were injured when a van crashed into a concrete barrier and a metal fence along the Central Luzon Link Expressway in Tarlac City yesterday.

Police said the L-300 van was headed toward Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija when the driver apparently lost control of the wheel upon reaching Barangay Balingcanaway at 7:55 a.m.

Probers have yet to identify the fatalities and determine the cause of the accident.

A video posted on social media showed the victims lying on the ground while being attended to by police and medical response teams.

Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon said four PRC personnel were among those who responded to the scene.

Gordon said the PRC Tarlac chapter set up a welfare desk at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital to respond to additional needs of the victims.

“Our fleet of ambulances remains on standby for additional transport needs, and arrangements have been made should patients require blood transfusion,” Gordon said in a post on social media.

Investigation is ongoing.