5 dead, 2 hurt as SUV, truck collide in Bulacan

Five persons, including three Koreans, died while two others were seriously injured after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a trailer truck collided along Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT) Highway in Barangay Sabang, City of Baliwag, Bulacan, at dawn yesterday.

Lt. Col. Julius Alvaro, Baliuag City police chief, said the SUV carrying the victims, including the driver, were travelling along south-bound lane of the road when it collided head-on with a trailer truck (NEG-7896) coming from the opposite lane.

The trailer truck driver, identified as PJ Salasay Calma, 38, of Barangay Mangga, Candaba, Pampanga, was arrested.

Police identified the fatalities as Allen Arucan Bulandos, driver of the Toyota Fortuner SUV, of Talavera, Nueva Ecija; Rosalinda Capinlac, of Barangay San Vicente, Llanera, Nueva Ecija; and South Koreans Miseon Kim, Jinoh Kim and Park Misoon.

Critically injured were Geraldine Capinlac and Theresa Adio, also both from Nueva Ecija.

Velancio dela Cruz Sta Maria (uncle of Geraldine Capinlac), 62, barangay chairman of Barangay San Vicente, Llanera, Nueva Ecija, filed a formal complaint against the driver of the trailer truck, police said.

Initial police investigation showed that the SUV, which came from Nueva Ecija province, swerved to the opposite lane and collided with the truck loaded with sand heading to San Rafael town in Bulacan.

The victims sustained multiple injuries and were rushed to Baliwag District Hospital where five of them were declared deadon-arrival.

Capinlac and Adio were transferred to Bulacan Medical Center in the City of Malolos for further medical treatment.

Relatives and family members of the victims, after being informed by Nueva Ecija police, coordinated with Bulacan police regarding the incident.

They said the victims met the accident as they were heading to the airport after spending vacation in the Philippines.