LIGAO CITY — Six passengers died and 13 others were injured in a collision between a truck and a public utility jeepney in Castilla town in Sorsogon province on Friday, Jan. 27, police said Saturday, Jan. 28.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said in a chat message to Inquirer that the incident transpired around 3:45 p.m. in Barangay (village) San Rafael.
Initial investigation by Castilla police revealed that the involved vehicles were traveling in opposite directions when the jeepney did a counterflow, causing the head-on collision with the truck being driven by Marlon Lorenzo, 51, and a resident of Gapan City in Nueva Ecija.
Fatalities were identified as public school teacher Karen Maquiñana, 45, a resident of Barangay Talisay, Sorsogon City; Erik Dino Deonida, 19, a resident of San Roque, Bacon District, Sorsogon City; and Castilla residents Heidy Albao, 58; Amparo Bajaro, 60; Janelle Abarientos, 17; and Maribel Pardillo, 45.
Jeepney driver Rodolfo Anoevo Licup Jr., 53 and a resident of Sorsogon City, is on hospital arrest and will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides, physical injury, and damage to property, Police Staff Seargent Allan Chavez, the investigator on the case, told Inquirer in a phone interview Saturday.
Injured passengers and truck driver Lorenzo are still receiving treatment at Sorsogon Provincial Hospital and Castilla District hospital.
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