A white Toyota Fortuner carrying three Korean nationals and four Filipino companions collided early Wednesday, June 7, with a truck on Sabang Baliwag Highway. The three Koreans and two of their Filipino friends died in the accident due to the impact. (Photo courtesy of Baliwag police station)
CITY OF BALIWAG, BULACAN — Three Korean nationals and two others died early Wednesday after their vehicle figured in a head-on collision with a truck while the victims were heading for Ninoy Aquino International Airport in this city, authorities said.
In a report, Bulacan police director Colonel Relly Arnedo identified the Korean fatalities as Miseon Kim, 22; his father, Jinoh Kim, 62; and their companion, Park Misoone, 57.
Their Filipino friends, who also died in the collision, were identified as Araceli De Guzman, 63, and Melchor Bulandos, 55, both from Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
Investigators said the foreigners were catching their flight back to Korea when their white Toyota Fortuner, which was driven by Bulandos, swerved to the opposite lane while traversing around 2 a.m. the DRT Highway in this city.
Police said the car collided with a tractor-trailer driven by PJ Calma, 34.
Due to the impact, the Fortuner was wrecked, and the victims suffered severe injuries and were taken to the Baliwag District Hospital, where they died.
The victims’ other Filipino companions, who were identified as Geraldine Capinlac, 50, and Theresa Adio, 43, were still being treated at the Bulacan Medical Center in the City of Malolos.
In a phone interview, Baliwag Chief of Police Colonel Julius Alvaro said they were still investigating whether the driver fell asleep or the car had mechanical trouble, which could have led to the accident.
But the truck driver claimed that the Fortuner was traveling at a high speed and had been occupying the opposite lane.
The police arrested Calma and is now detained at the Baliwag City jail. INQ
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