Initial reports said the jeepney, with license plate AYH-473, was overloaded with 30 passengers, some of whom were sitting on the roof, when it lost control and hit the truck coming from the opposite direction along the national highway in Barangay Central East.
Most of the dead and injured were teenagers returning home from an overnight party in Paringao beach here, said Senior Superintendent Franklin Bucayu, La Union provincial police director.
Investigators led by Superintendent Pedro Obaldo, Bauang police chief, said the passengers were hurled outside the jeepney as the force of the impact ripped apart two wheels, causing the vehicle to split into pieces. Six of the passengers died on the spot.
The jeepney driver, identified as Alex William, 18, was killed while the trailer truck driver Andres Placido, of Tomas Mapua St. Manila, was questioned by police and may face charges, Obaldo said.
Police identified the eight other fatalities as Lea Bastian, Jay Boy Dudun, Reggie Antonio, Jessica Marino, Ruby Jean Javier, Arlene Sapitula, Ricky Tomas and Reynaldo Anoran, all residents of Ubolan Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Most of the victims were brought to Ilocos Training and Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.
The injured were identified as Jingle Bumakas, Clever Maronis, Franky Mateo, Ronaliza Javier, Lorena Bastian, Arnel Marino, Marou Maidap, Hazel Antonio, Ramon Marino, Jayson Valenciano, Manelyn Sapitula, Genevive Bumakas, Rodel Dudon, Frensel Maidap, Pedling Ungaton, and Cristine Valenciano.
Obaldo said their initial investigation showed most of the victims were drunk.
"Some of them were reeking with liquor and we saw several empty bottles inside the jeepney," Obaldo said.
Obaldo said several witnesses saw the jeepney swerving several times before it hit the truck in the opposite direction.
Obaldo revealed that exactly last year, 12 people were killed in the same spot and time involving a truck and another passenger vehicle. — With Jun Elias, Artemio Dumlao, Eva Visperas, AP