ORMOC CITY— A student was killed while several others were injured after a passenger van slammed into four parked vehicles and pedestrians along the roadside in Barangay Balud, Capoocan, Leyte early Tuesday morning, December 30, police said.
The fatality, identified as alias “Ron,” a student and resident of Barangay Balud, was pinned between vehicles during the collision. He was extricated by rescuers and rushed to Carigara District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Ma. Noeme Tuanquil.
Police identified the vehicle involved as a silver Toyota Hi-Ace passenger van (plate number DBA 2687) driven by alias “Rey,” 28, a resident of Villareal, Samar. The van was reportedly en route to Kananga, Leyte, when the accident occurred at around 5:14 a.m.
Initial investigation by the Capoocan Municipal Police Station (MPS) showed that the driver allegedly fell asleep while driving, causing the van to veer off course and hit four parked vehicles before striking pedestrians walking along the side of the road.
The parked vehicles damaged in the crash included a red Toyota Rush (plate number HAG 6302), a white Toyota Hilux (plate number HAC 4239), a blue Mitsubishi L-200 (plate number HAY 800), all registered to Leyte Cable Network Inc., and a motorcycle with sidecar (plate number 082405).
Three pedestrians were hit in the incident. Aside from the fatality, the other two—identified as alias “Chad,” of legal age, and alias “Aqui,” 73—were injured and brought to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City for medical treatment.
Two passengers of the van, including a 9-year-old boy identified as alias “Jhon,” sustained minor injuries and were treated on site by responders from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). Other passengers were reported unharmed.
Capoocan police chief PLT Sergio M. Llaneta III said the driver was taken into police custody for proper disposition, while the vehicles involved remained at the scene pending assessment of damages and completion of the investigation.
(ROBERT DEJON)
