Killed were Lalaine Joy Labang, Mylene Donaldo, Carlo Advincula, Regie Pag-ong, Ryan Jay Niñez, Alfredo Abatayo, Salvacion Masugbod, and Rose Ann Macpal, van passengers.
Passenger van driver Noel Podadera and truck driver Cesar Andaya also died in the mishap that occurred at 3:15 p.m.
Police Col. Paul Bometivo, General Santos City police chief, said Friday, August 5, that six others were injured and confined in various hospitals.
Four of the injured were identified as Shiela Bantaculo, Regina L. Gadia, Jerel U. Villaruz, and Jeraldine U. Villaruz.
Involved in one of the city’s worst highway mishaps were a 10-wheel wing van truck, a Toyota Hi-Ace passenger van going to this city, and a Ford Raptor pickup truck, Bometivo said.
Bometivo said the left rear tire of the van exploded while negotiating an uphill curve in Barangay Batomelong, causing the accident.
“The passenger van swerved to the left and hit head-on with the cargo truck,” Bometivo said.
Seven passengers of the van died on the spot while three perished in a hospital here.
Probers said passengers of the van were officemates who were on their way home from Samal Island where they attended a team-building seminar.
A City Council member said he will propose a speed limit ordinance on all vehicles traveling outside the city proper to help prevent similar incident. (With a report from Joseph Jubelag)