Maguindanao vehicular collision death toll now 9

MANILA, Philippines—Two more victims of the vehicular accident in Maguindanao died on Monday, police said.

This brought the death toll in last Sunday’s collision involving a passenger van and a dump truck to nine.

Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, Maguindanao provincial director, said the incident occurred around 12 noon Sunday along Narciso Ramos Highway in Parang town, involving a blue dump truck (GSV 937) and a white D4D van (MEE 797) on Sunday, around 12 noon.

Jocson said the dump truck (GSV 937) was on its way to Cotabato City when it experienced a mechanical failure in its steering wheel, causing it to hit the van (MEE 797) carrying 21 passengers that was on its way to Pagadian City.

Police reported that seven of the van passengers died on the spot, while the other injured passengers were brought to nearby hospitals.

On Monday, Chief Superintendent Henry Gubat, Parang police chief, said two other victims died in the hospital.

Police said only four of the fatalities have been identified so far. They are Virginia Sinarillos, Mike Mokkamad, Nurhaya Baliodong, and Jovergen Sinarillos.