Van blows tire; 1 dead, 9 hurt in Quezon City

A teenager was killed while nine others were injured after the van they were riding in blew a tire, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle which flipped onto its side in Quezon City before dawn Sunday.

The fatality was identified as 18-year-old Gerald Balberan, a resident of Barangay (village) Highway Hills in Mandaluyong City.

Fatal head injuries

Traffic investigator Police Officer 3 Ben Tilao said the victim died immediately due to head injuries as a result of the accident which took place at 3:30 a.m. at the corner of Araneta Avenue and Retiro Street in Barangay Talayan.

He added that the victim had hit his head hard against the window of the gray Mitsubishi Montero (NSO 553) after the sport utility vehicle fell onto its side.

There were 10 people on board the SUV, including the driver and van owner, Xerxes Sapalo.

Video game competition  Sapalo told the police that he and the other people in the vehicle, mostly youngsters, were on their way to Caloocan City to join a video game contest.

On their way to their destination, he said he lost control of the vehicle which headed for a lamppost on the right side of the street.

To avoid hitting the post, Sapalo said he turned the steering wheel to the left but the vehicle hit the gutter and flipped onto its right side.

The movement resulted in Balberan, who was sleeping at the back of the vehicle, banging his head against the window.

A check later showed that the SUV’s right rear tire wheel had burst which resulted in the driver losing control of the vehicle.

All the passengers of the SUV were taken to East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.