4 dead, 3 hurt in truck-ambulance collision in Quezon province

A collision between a 10-wheeler truck and an ambulance bound for Manila in Tagkawayan, Quezon left four people dead and three others wounded. Two of the victims were children aged 8 and 12. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY TAGKAWAYAN PNP

LUCENA CITY –– Four persons aboard a Manila-bound ambulance died after their vehicle collided head-on with a ten-wheeler truck at the Quirino Highway in Tagkawayan town in Quezon province Wednesday morning.

Police Major Marcelito Platino, Tagkawayan police chief, reported that a Nissan Urvan ambulance from Gubat, Sorsogon, and being driven by Melchor Escandor, 45, was bumped by the truck being driven by Gerardo Bandales, 39, on the highway in Barangay San Vicente around 9:30 a.m.

The report said the truck occupied the opposite that led to the head-on collision. The wayward truck hit another van parked at the roadside was.

Police retrieved video footage of the collision from the ambulance dashcam.

The ambulance was registered to the Department of Health in Legazpi City.

Seven passengers of the ill-fated ambulance suffered grave injuries but Escandor, and two other passengers, Estela Escobedo, and Silvestre Camposanto, all residents of Gubat town, died while being taken to Ma. Eleazar Memorial District Hospital at the town center, the report stated.

Plantino said Escobedo was supposed to be brought to a hospital in Manila for treatment.

Another ambulance passenger, Aljon Gime, 12, died while undergoing treatment.

The three other passengers of the ambulance, Nigel Gime, 8; Lanie Escandor, 43; and Rose Ann Espineda, 33, were confined at the said hospital.

In an online interview, Platino said one of the relatives of the victim corrected the identity on the body of “Silvester Camposano” and clarified that he was “Zander Regalado.”

Platino said they were still investigating why the ambulance was carrying seven passengers.

“We have yet to question the survivors,” Platino said.

Bandales was arrested and was detained. He will be facing multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to property complaints.

ZB/MUF