3 killed, 7 wounded in Compostela road accident

TAGUM CITY, Philippines—Three people were killed while seven others were injured when a van packed with passengers returning from the New Year’s holiday slammed into a parked truck in Montevista, Compostela Valley, early Tuesday, police said.

Superintendent Jose Carumba, spokesman of the Southern Mindanao police office, said the accident occurred at a portion of the Davao-Butuan highway in Barangay (village) Poblacion past 12 midnight.

He said the Toyota Hi-Ace van (plate number LXA-352), driven by Elmer Toyco, 30, and carrying 10 passengers from Butuan City rammed into the Isuzu truck parked on the shoulder of the highway.

The van’s passengers said Toyco had fallen asleep at the wheel, but the van driver denied the allegation.

Truck helper Jessie Bolanio said they were replacing a flat tire when the van suddenly hit the rear portion of the truck.

Three of the van’s passengers—Mary Ann, 22, and Mailyn Quejada, 25, both of Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and Benjie Tecson, 30, also of Tandag—died as they were being rushed to a hospital.

Those injured were still undergoing treatment at the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City, Carumba said.