2 cops, civilian hurt in TPLEx accident

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—-Two policemen and their companion were hurt when a police patrol vehicle overshot a section of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) and fell into the side of the highway in Rosales, Pangasinan, on Friday, police said.

Reports said Police Officer 3 Gregorio Abalos, who was driving a Toyota Hilux police patrol vehicle, suffered serious injuries while his companions, PO1 Arvin Asis and civilian Romino Navarro, had scratches and bruises following the accident along the TPLEx section in Barangay Tomana West at 6:45 a.m. The policemen are assigned in the Natividad town police station.

Abalos was taken to the Dr. Marcelo Chan Memorial Hospital in Rosales.

Chief Insp. Norman Florentino, Rosales police chief, said no other vehicle was involved in the accident.

He said the police vehicle, which was northbound, fell into a portion of TPLEx where a roadside barricade has yet to be installed.

Florentino said investigators were waiting for Abalos’ condition to improve so they can talk to him and establish the cause of the accident. Johanne Margarette Macob, Inquirer Northern Luzon