3 dead in road mishap

BATANGAS, Philippines – Three women were killed while 22 others were hurt when the passenger jeepney they were riding in collided with a cargo truck in Nasugbu town Tuesday night, police said.

PO3 Jose Bruno, Nasugbu police investigator, identified the fatalities as Cherry Ann Salazar, 17; Lynda Santos, 50; and Delia Sombreo, 58.

The 22 injured passengers, seven of them in critical condition, were rushed to the Apacible Hospital, Madonna Hospital and other hospitals in the province.

Police said the jeepney driven by Jaypee Gatdula was cruising the national highway in Barangay Bilaran when the cargo truck loaded with sugarcane on the opposite lane sideswiped it, causing it to roll over several times.

Truck driver Roderick Canbalisa, 30, escaped after the accident but later surrendered to police.

Meanwhile, an eight-vehicle smash-up on the southbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak, Quezon City left three people injured and caused an early morning traffic jam on the expressway yesterday. – Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso and Dino Balabo