3 dead in nine-vehicle smashup in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines—Three persons were killed while several others were hurt in a nine-vehicle smashup in Pangasinan Friday afternoon, a police official said.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, Pangasinan police director, said that a wayward truck which was on its way to deliver vegetables to Manila rammed two tricycles, three other trucks and three motorcycles along McArthur Highway in Carmen village, Rosales town at around 2 p.m.

He said that three persons were declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital while roughly 10 more were being treated for injuries.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident but Ricaforte said that initial information gathered by police indicated that the delivery truck lost its brakes before it crashed into eight other vehicles.

Police have yet to release the names of the victims to the media.