KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/02 March)—The death toll in the three-vehicle vehicle smash-up involving a speeding passenger van climbed to seven with 17 others injured, police said Saturday.
Chief Insp. Jordine Maribojo, Pikit police chief, said four of the dead victims were nursing students of the Saint Benedict College in Parang, Maguindanao, who were bound to the Cruzado Hospital in Pikit town for their internship duties.
Maribojo identified those killed in the vehicular accident as van driver Mohamed Samil Ali, Solayman Macaindeg, Musa Bacuna, and nursing students Sittie Haymiyah Ibrahim, Umayrah Abutazil, Potri Sauya Mansa, and Judy Uy.
All the slain passengers were reportedly on board the Toyota Hi-Ace van bound for Davao City. Witnesses said the van was overtaking in high speed at a blind curve when the accident happened in the boundary of Aleosan and Pikit towns at around 12:10 p.m. Friday.
“Maybe the driver failed to realize there are vehicles from the other side of the road that, just like his van, are also negotiating on the curve,” said Maribojo.
The van first hit a passenger Lawin jeepney and later smashed a military truck. Both vehicles were on their way to Cotabato City.
Maribojo stressed the collision was very strong that the van was “halved” after it hit the two vehicles.
Four of the van passengers died on the spot while the three expired while being treated at the hospital.
Some of the injured victims were reportedly still in critical condition. (Malu Cadelina-Manar/MindaNews)
