Van slams motorcycle, plows into house: 6 die, 4 wounded

NABAS, AKLAN, Philippines — Six persons were killed and four others were wounded when a cargo van hit from behind a motorcycle and then plowed into a house along the highway of Brgy. Solido of this town Wednesday afternoon.

Inspector Renante de Matillano, chief of the Nabas Police Station said the fatalities were five persons inside the house and the motorcycle back rider identified as Maria Estrada, 47, of Caticlan in Malay town. She was still rushed to the hospital but eventually expired from injuries.

Those killed inside the house were Agnes Caigoy, 43; her son 8-year-old son Isaiah Kim; her sister-in-law Salvacion Caigoy; Salvacion's nephew, Vary; and Salvador Espadero, Jr., 30. They all died on the spot. Their bodies were pulled out of the wreckage from under the van.

Two minors, and a certain Jeffrey Abenir, 25, and Guiller Alajar, 25, were found injured and taken to the Ibajay District Hospital for treatment, said de Matillano.

The police official told The FREEMAN that the van (plate no. NQY-357), driven by 33-year-old Joe Marie Arcillas, came from Roxas City and was on its way to Pandan town of Antique when the incident happened.

Initial investigation said that it was loaded with bottles of soy sauce, and allegedly experienced mechanical trouble. According to the driver's companion, it seemed that the vehicle's brake was not working. The driver even unbuckled his seat belt and tried to jump out of the vehicle.

As they were navigating a curve, Arcillas failed to maneuver the vehicle to make a turn. Instead, it ran into a straight line and rammed a motorcycle (plate no. 92016-FK) driven by Diego Saluta, Jr., with Estrada, the passenger.

The van then plowed into the house, owned by Boy Magallanes, which the Caigoys had rented for their billiard, cafeteria, and Ro-Ro ticketing office businesses.

De Matillano said Arcillas was arrested and is now detained at the lock-up cell of the Nabas Police Station. He added that the police are also looking into the driver's security, as emotions ran high among the victims' families.

Charges are yet to be filed against Arcillas, who was a native of Bacoor, Cavite, said the police chief. (FREEMAN)