1 dead, 7 family members hurt in Ilocos Norte car crash

A family of eight figured in a car crash on Maundy Thursday in Pasuquin town, Ilocos Norte. (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial police office.)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte––One person died, and seven other family members were hurt in a car crash on Maundy Thursday, April 14, in Pasuquin town, Ilocos Norte province, the police said.

The mishap transpired at around 8:40 a.m. at the national highway straddling Nagsanga village.

The police, citing eyewitness accounts, said a Toyota Vios car was on the way to Laoag City from Santiago, Isabela, when driver Erwin Jay Chavez fell asleep, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed against the concrete post of a power line owned by the Northwind Power Corporation.

One of the passengers, Sancho Chavez Tan, 53, who was in the car’s passenger seat, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Governor Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRASMH) in Laoag City.

The seven others were hurt and admitted to the GRASMH. They were Erwin Jay Chavez, 33; Summer Tan, 27; Arkin Chavez, 5; Aedan Chavez, 9; Aaron Chavez, 11; Austin Chavez, 3; and Ashton Chavez, 1.

All are residents of Santiago, Isabela.

The police said the family took off from Isabela around 11 p.m. on April 13.

According to the police, the other family members had advised the driver to take a rest and sleep in nearby Bangui town.

But the driver did not heed the advice and proceeded to drive, noting that their destination was near.

The front portion of the car was wrecked, the police added.

lzb