Jeepney rams tree; 5 dead, 16 hurt

MANILA, Philippines — A family of three, a jeepney driver and his wife were killed while 16 others were injured when a passenger jeepney rammed a tree in Jala-Jala, Rizal on Saturday.

Winnie Rodriguez died while being treated in a hospital where her children, Karyll and Kiell Aron, and Francisco Abesamis and his wife Grace, who all suffered head and body injuries, were declared dead on arrival.

Two of the injured remain in critical condition.

Rodriguez and her children were on their way home from Tanay when the accident occurred.

Reports reaching Chief Superintendent Ted Carranza, Calabarzon police director, showed that Abesamis crashed into the tree when he tried to avoid a car driven by Jennifer Blaetz in Sitio Biga, Barangay Bayugo at about 5:30 p.m.

In Cagayan, Leslie Dante Bello Jr., 14,  and Margareth Tabangin, 13, died when their motorcycle crashed into a dump truck in Barangay Rizal, Santa, Ilocos Sur also on Saturday. 

Bello was pronounced dead on arrival at the Metro Vigan Cooperative Hospital. Tabangin died while being treated in the same hospital yesterday.

Initial investigation showed the truck driver, Herald de Peralta, 41, hit the motorcycle when he made a right turn to go to an automotive repair shop at around 3 p.m.

De Peralta surrendered to responding police officers. – With Ed Amoroso and Raymund Catindig