TARLAC CITY, Philippines — A tragic multi-vehicle crash at the Tarlac City Toll Plaza on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway left twelve people dead, including six children, and sent over twenty others to area hospitals on Thursday. The accident has sparked concerns over road safety and driver alertness on the busy expressway.
According to Police Lt. Col. Romel Santos, the head of the Tarlac Provincial Police Office, the fatal incident began when a bus plowed into a van that was waiting in line at the toll booth. The collision caused a chain reaction, leading the van to strike a compact SUV, which then crashed into a tractor-trailer in front of it.
Santos confirmed that among the deceased, ten individuals were passengers in the van, and two were occupants of the compact SUV. The bus driver’s account stated that he dozed off just before the incident occurred, leading to his temporary detainment by authorities.
Marvin Guiang, who oversees the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, lamented the loss of life, noting that one couple perished in the accident, while their infant child survived. “The impact of the collision was tremendous; those in the two vehicles were completely crushed,” he stated. The only survivors from the impacted vehicles included the driver of the van and the baby, as passengers on the bus sustained only minor injuries.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with debris scattered across the roadway. The toll plaza, usually a brief stop for travelers, turned into a site of mourning for families affected by the tragedy. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, treating the injured and transporting them to nearby hospitals for further assistance.
Investigators have launched a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Santos detailed the sequence of events, illustrating that the bus, from Solid North Transit Inc., was the catalyst for the series of collisions. In total, four vehicles were involved in the incident, illustrating the dangers associated with inattentive driving.
Traffic conditions along the expressway have since returned to normal, but the local community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating accident. As officials work to uncover the full details of this incident, calls for increased road safety measures and driver vigilance are becoming more urgent.
The management of Solid North Transit Inc. has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the involvement of their bus in this devastating crash. Meanwhile, the families of the victims are left to mourn their losses, highlighting the profound impact of this tragedy on the community.