GENERAL SANTOS CITY — At least 11 people, including an infant and two children, died while four others were injured after a passenger van and a jeepney collided head-on along the national highway in Barangay Batomelong here Monday afternoon.
Chief Insp. Yol Hilado, chief of the city police station number 8, said the Toyota commuter van was on its way to Malungon town in Sarangani Province when it collided with the Isuzu jeepney that was en route to this city amid heavy rains at around 3:45 p.m.
Hilado said the van’s driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle after one of its tires exploded, forcing it to swerve towards the opposite direction of the highway.
“The road was also slippery at that time due to the rains,” the police official said.
Eight passengers of both vehicles were initially reported to have died on-the-spot while seven others were rushed to three hospitals here.
But 10 of them were declared dead upon arrival by attending doctors at the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital, St. Elizabeth Hospital, and Socsargen County Hospital.
A report released by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Malungon said one of the van’s passengers from the area, who was listed in critical condition eventually died due to severe injuries.
Mai Mosquera Fernando, MDRRMO head staff, identified the fatalities as Estrella Entero Decenorio (seven-months-old) of Malungon; Ricardo Entero Decenorio, 3, of Malungon; Zyrex Entero of Malungon; Aiza Mae Entero of Malungon; Ricardo Calmorin of Butuan City, Adelayda Calmorin of Butuan; Maria Entero of Malungon; Rosario Aquino of Butuan; Merenie Entero Decenorio of Malungon; and, Dominador Calob (jeep driver) and Eduardo Roque of Davao Del Sur.
The injured victims were identified as Ivan Carl Entero, Rica Entero, Sandra Entero and van driver James Amarille Entero, all of Malungon town.
Hilado said the van’s passengers were on their way home to Malungon after attending a family gathering in Koronadal City.
He said the jeepney was on its way to the city to pick up guests for a wedding in Digos City, Davao del Sur on Tuesday. (Isagani Palma/PNA)
