5 dead in Nueva Ecija mishap

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Five persons died while another was seriously wounded when their pickup truck rammed two trees in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija on  Monday.

John Bryan Lopez, 35; Marvin Jimenez, 24; Joel Calderon, 21; Estelito Mendoza, 20, and Sherwin Almazar, 20, were declared dead on arrival at the Aliaga Rural Health Unit, where truck driver Romeo Almazar, 25, was also rushed for treatment.

The victims were headed for Quezon town when they figured in an accident in Barangay Purisima at around 1:15 a.m., according to Nueva Ecija police director Senior Superintendent Manuel Cornel.

Cornel said the vehicle was traveling along the Aliaga-Quezon Road when it hit the camachile and coconut trees.

Meanwhile, two seamen died while another was injured when their car slammed into a mango tree in  Aparri, Cagayan on Monday.             

Alvin Karl Castillo and his cousin Roland Urbanoza died at the scene while their companion, Paul Michael Ugale, was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Florentino Usita said Castillo lost control of the wheel as they were traveling in Barangay Toran.

The victims reportedly came from a drinking session and were headed home when their Nissan Sentra figured in an accident at around 2:30 a.m.

In Quezon province, four persons were injured in a collision involving an armored van and a bus in Plaridel town on Monday afternoon.

The victims, identified as bus driver Philip Ramos, 41; van driver Rolly Canaman, 29; security guard John Estera, and bank teller Alyssa Marie Alas, 27, were rushed to the RAKKK General Hospital in nearby Gumaca town for treatment.

Police officers were deployed at the accident site to secure the van. – With Raymund Catindig, Michelle Zoleta