5 ‘tuk-tuk’ passengers dead, 4 others hurt in 3-vehicle mishap in Quezon

UP IN FLAMES. The burned tuk-tuk vehicle sits waiting to be cleared off the road after it figured in an accident that left five passengers dead and injured four others along the Maharlika Highway in Lopez, Quezon on Wednesday, May 15. Photo by Bayani Bacuño, Contributor

LUCENA CITY — Five passengers of a “tuk-tuk,” a three-wheeled motorcycle, died, and four others were injured early Wednesday, May 15, in an accident involving two other vehicles at the Maharlika Highway in Lopez town in Quezon province.

The Quezon police said in a report that the tuk-tuk being driven by Julius Brin, 32, was traveling at 2:10 a.m. to Albay province when it was bumped from behind by a truck driven by Ernesto Alberto, 51, in a section of the highway in Barangay Canda Ilaya.

Upon impact, the tuk-tuk suddenly burst into flames and bumped the rear section of a passenger bus driven by Amor Pedragosa, 47, running ahead.

The bus also caught fire, but its passengers were all unharmed.

READ: Van driver dead, 10 passengers hurt in Quezon road mishap

After the collision, the wayward truck fell and rested on its right part on the side of the road. The driver was not hurt.

The report said four of the tuk-tuk passengers – Cheska Jucares, 28; Riza Brin, 25; and two boys, Jasper and Jarid died on the spot from severe burns on their bodies. Jaymar Lunas expired while being treated at the hospital in the town center.

Tuktuk driver Brin and three of his passengers — Leopoldo Brin, 57, and two girls, Julia and Janella (both minors) sustained injuries and were confined in a local hospital.

In a phone interview, Police Lieutenant Colonel Dandy Aguilar, Lopez police chief, quoting information from the bus driver, said the 40 passengers quickly disembarked before the fire spread inside the vehicle.

Aguilar said the tuk-tuk passengers were all family members and residents of Antipolo City. They were supposed to go to Albay for a vacation.

The truck driver was placed under police custody as the investigation continues.