1 dead, 9 hurt in Lubao, Pampanga road mishap

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — One person died while nine others were injured after a dump truck collided with a passenger jeepney along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) in Lubao, Pampanga on Wednesday.

In a police report obtained on Thursday by the Inquirer, the fatality was identified as Lando Gantang, 43, a resident of Lubao, and one of the passengers of the jeepney.

Investigation showed that the jeepney was traveling from Lubao to the City of San Fernando at 8:10 a.m. when it was suddenly rammed by the dump truck with plate number CAT2192 which was traveling on the opposite side of the road toward Bataan.

The dump truck, according to the police,  was moving on the inner lane of JASA toward Bataan when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to turn around and hit the approaching jeepney, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

The jeepney’s driver, Joseph Santos, 48, was also rushed to hospital.

The dump truck driver, identified as Alvin Martin, 34, was detained and faces a formal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to properties.

Lt. Colonel Dederick Relativo, Lubao chief of police, advised motorists to always be vigilant and careful when traveling along the highway, particularly along JASA.

On Dec. 26, 2021, an infant and six other persons died while several others were injured after a speeding minibus rammed  two tricycles and a waiting shed filled with people along JASA in Lubao.

On Jan. 1, 2020, seven passengers were killed and more than a dozen others were injured after a San Fernando-bound jeepney was rammed by a truck along the same road in Lubao.

The jeepney occupied the opposite lane after it was hit on the left side by a pickup truck crossing the highway.

On Dec. 7, 2016, four persons were killed after a truck carrying bags of cement hit several vehicles and fell from a bridge along JASA.