Three on way to Ecija ‘pabasa’ killed in accident

GEN. TINIO, Nueva Ecija – Three people, one of them a 3-year-old boy, were killed when a truck turned upside down on a road in the mountainous village of Pias here at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

The truck was carrying 20 people bound for Sitio (subvillage) Cunacon to participate in a “pabasa (the reading of the Passion of Christ)” when the accident happened, killing the child, Mandy Caballero, 42-year-old Mercedita Terejal, and 80-year-old Ramona Reyes, according to Senior Insp. Adriano Gabriel, town police chief.

Fourteen other passengers were hurt and were brought to different hospitals, Gabriel said.

Truck driver Joel Francia said he was negotiating a steep slope when he lost control of the vehicle due to a mechanical problem.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injury are being prepared against Francia, who has been detained by the local police.