9 die in Cagayan vehicular mishap

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan, Philippines — Nine persons including two minors died while two others were injured when a van plowed into two houses, a garage and two vehicles in Lal-lo town in this province on Saturday. night.

The fatalities were identified as Clarita Maganay; Aladin, Charie, Duarte, Eric and 10-year-old Jeric, all surnamed Oñate, and May Ann, Rosita and three-month-old Elisa, all surnamed Martinez.

The victims died at the scene while van driver Dan Vincent Domingo and his passenger Allan Jay Parungao were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Reports said the victims were sitting near the road in Barangay San Lorenzo when they were hit by the van at around 9:30 p.m.

After hitting the victims, the vehicle slammed into a house, a garage, a tricycle and a Toyota Fortuner parked along the road before crashing into another house.

Five of the fatalities tested positive for COVID in antigen testing and were immediately buried.

The municipal government of Lal-lo facilitated the burial of the remaining victims yesterday.

Charges of multiple homicide due to reckless imprudence will be filed against Domingo, police said. Probers have yet to determine the cause of the accident.

In Quezon province, two men died when their motorcycle collided with an armored vehicle in Candelaria yesterday afternoon.

Pofer Benitez and Rubert Buan died at the scene of the accident that occurred in Barangay Sta. Catalina Sur, according to Col. Joel Villanueva, Quezon police director.

Villanueva said the victims died from severe head and body injuries.

Benitez and Buan were on a motorcycle with no license plate when they collided with the armored van driven by Crisanto Ella, probers said. – Michelle Zoleta