3 die as truck rams 5 vehicles in Camarines Sur

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Three persons died while at least 30 others were injured when a dump truck rammed five motor vehicles in Ragay, Camarines Sur on Monday night.

The fatalities were identified as Association of Barangay Captains president Joseph Cater; Alejandro Purca, 8, and Alea Araza, 4.

Among the injured victims were three police officers in a patrol car, which was among the vehicles hit by the truck driven by Jose Sinfuego, said Chief Inspector Ariel Blanco, town police chief.

One of the police officers suffered serious injuries and was brought to the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City for treatment.

The others were to taken to the Ragay District Hospital and Bicol Medical Center in Naga City. Most of the victims were passengers of the R. Volante bus bound for Sorsogon.

Reports said that prior to the accident, a motorcycle and a tricycle figured in a collision along Andaya Highway in Barangay Lower Sta. Cruz at about 6 p.m.

Cater was among a group of village officials who responded to the area to investigate.

Sinfuego was driving the truck down a curved portion of the highway when he lost control of the wheel.

The truck swerved and hit a Mitsubishi Adventure, the R. Volante bus, the police patrol car, as well as the motorcycle and tricycle, which earlier figured in a collision.

Cater and the two other fatalities were standing near the motorcycle and the tricycle when the truck hit them at about 7 p.m. – With Francis Elevado