Infant, 6 others killed in Pampanga Christmas weekend road crash

The Oster Liner minibus sustained serious damage after hitting two tricycles, a waiting shed and a concrete electric post that resulted in the death of seven people and injury to nine others in Lubao, Pampanga on Dec. 26. (Screengrab from the CLTV36 Facebook video)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga – What was supposed to be a season of celebration turned into a period of mourning for the relatives of seven people, including a 1-year-old boy, who were killed after a speeding minibus rammed  two tricycles and a waiting shed in Lubao town on Sunday afternoon.

Police Lt. Col. Julius Javier, Lubao chief of police, said the infant and three relatives were all on board the tricycle that was cruising the eastbound lane of Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Barangay San Isidro around 4:30 p.m.

In a phone interview, Javier said the tricycle was hit from behind by the Oster Liner passenger minibus.

“The minibus was traveling on the same lane towards the City of San Fernando from Balanga City in Bataan province when it bumped the tricycle,” he said.

The impact of the rear-end collision caused the tricycle to crash into the road’s shoulder.

After hitting the tricycle, the minibus swerved to the right and hit a “kolong-kolong” (improvised tricycle), a waiting shed and a concrete electric post.

Completely destroyed

Investigators said the waiting shed was completely destroyed while the concrete electric post was toppled, resulting in a power outage in the area.

Videos of the crash site posted on social media showed bodies lying down on the road’s shoulder and at the back of the minibus.

The local police identified the infant as Julian Mcklain Mendoza while the other fatalities who were on board the tricycle were identified as tricycle driver Jun Mendoza, 35, and May Anne Mendoza, 25.

Also killed were pedestrians Justin Castro, 22, and Trisha Gogolin, 22, both from Lubao; and the minibus conductor identified as Armando De Guzman, 51, from Balanga.

Police said another tricycle passenger, who has yet to be identified, died while being treated at a hospital.

Injured victims

Nine others, among them passengers of the minibus, were still being treated at the Escolastica Romero District Hospital in Lubao and at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH) in San Fernando.

Javier said investigators have yet to interrogate Orlando Bangit, 68, the minibus driver, who was still being treated at the JBLMRH.

A team from the Highway Patrol Group was sent to the accident site on Monday to find out if the accident was caused by human error or a mechanical defect, Javier said.

The investigators said they would also make a background check on the minibus driver, his fitness to drive a passenger bus, and the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

Javier said Bangit will face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple injuries and damage to properties.

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