Eastern Samar van-truck collision: Six dead, two injured, truck driver missing

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines – Five people died on the spot and another died while being treated, while two more were critically injured, when a passenger van collided with a truck in Salcedo town of Eastern Samar Friday noon.

Sources from the Quinapondan Police identified the on-the-spot fatalities as husband and wife Gilberto and Julita Labicane, and their 13-year-old daughter Jasmine—all of Guiuan, Eastern Samar—Rhodora Garcia of Maslog town, and the van driver Jupiter Roxas, who hailed from San Miguel, Leyte.

A certain Juanito Tienes, 29, of Caiba-an in Tacloban City, was among those who were seriously injured but he died after an hour in a nearby medical facility. The two others were critically wounded but survived were Freshly Ann Tienes, also of Caiba-an, and Edgar Gaap of Lawaan town in Eastern Samar.

Based on the initial report obtained by The Freeman, the collision accident occurred along Maharlika Highway, particularly at the area of Barangay Ilawod in Salcedo, Eastern Samar.

As of yesterday, there was no definite scenario yet of the incident, but the subject truck sped off the scene and was found abandoned at Brgy. San Pedro in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar.

The truck driver, who was later identified as one Felix Piang, 40, a resident of Suarez, Iligan City was reportedly missing as of press time.

Friends of the Labicane family, in their message to The Freeman, told that the family was in pain and despair at the moment thus were not yet available for any statement to the media. They sought for help instead that justice be served to all the victims of the tragic incident. (FREEMAN)