CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela – At least 17 persons were injured in a collision involving three vehicles in Barangay Cabugao, Echague, Isabela on Black Saturday.
Police Senior Master Sgt. Eliezer Gaoiran, duty investigator of the Echague police station, said the accident happened at 3:20 p.m.
Gaoiran identified the victims as Roger Alili Jr., 28, the driver of an Isuzu DMax pickup truck and his passengers Marygene Valdez, 30, businesswoman; Alexandra Rose Alili, 5; and Roger Alili, 11-months-old, all residents of Barangay San Fabian, Echague; Melchor Simangan, 37, driver of a Suzuki Expression and his passengers Marco Agustin, 26; Rubilar Agustin, 49; Marcelo Simangan, Aschiel Simangan, and Ciano Simangan, all residents of District 2, Cauayan City; and Eugene Rey Accad, 33, driver of an Suzuki Ertiga and his passengers Reunizel Accad, Brasel Accad, Betheny Accad, Rene Almonte, Elizabeth Almonte, and Nida, all residents of Barangay Cabaruan, Cauayan City.
Initial investigation said the Isuzu DMax pickup truck accidentally bumped the Suzuki Expression driven by Simangan from the opposite direction in a junction.
The Suzuki Ertiga coming from behind suddenly stopped and bumped the rear of Simangan’s car.
All the occupants of the three vehicles sustained minor injuries except for Simangan who was taken by responders to the Cauayan District Hospital.
Gaoiran said the victims were not on “summer” vacation.
Two of the three vehicles were coming home to Cauayan City from Quirino.
Gaoiran said a follow up probe on the accident is ongoing.