Three personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) died while another one was injured after the car that they were riding on got involved in a vehicular accident along EDSA Santolan in Quezon City early Friday, Feb. 18.
Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano, PAF spokesperson, said the accident occurred along the southbound lane of P. Tuazon tunnel around 3:50 a.m. when a Honda City carrying the four airmen crashed into a concrete barrier at the busway and exploded.
“The accident involved four PAF personnel wherein three were confirmed dead. The only survivor was brought to a hospital for immediate medical treatment,” Mariano said.
The identities of the victims were not immediately disclosed by PAF pending information to their families and relatives.
The troops were reportedly going to work at the PAF headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City when the accident happened.
Jasper Adrian Ibanga, a resident in the area, said he was inside their house when he suddenly heard the crash.
“Nasa loob po ako ng bahay, narinig ko po ‘yong malakas na salpok. Paglabas ko, nakita ko na ‘yong sasakyan binangga niya ‘yong mga concrete barriers na nasa bus line (I was inside our house then I heard the crash. When I went out, I saw the car that slammed into the concrete barriers in the bus line),” Ibanga told the Manila Bulletin.
“Nang mga oras na ‘yon di pa nag-aapoy ‘yong sasakyan kaya nilapitan ng ibang tao, mga motorists po muna. Then pinuntahan ko po ‘yong mga pulis doon sa may kanto ng P. Tuazon para sabihin ‘yong nangyari (That time, the vehicle was not burning yet so other residents and motorists managed to get nearby. Then I went to the police station on corner P. Tuazon Street to report the incident),” he added.
Police investigators were already investigating the incident to determine the cause of the crash.
“The PAF is coordinating with proper authorities on this investigation,” Mariano noted.