At 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, a passenger jeepney, a pickup, and a tricycle collided on the bypass route in Barangay Banaba, San Pascual, Batangas, injuring sixteen people.
Eleven of the injured were students, the youngest of whom was nine years old and ready to start school. The majority of the injured were minors.
A teacher and the car drivers were also among those injured.
The majority of the victims were passengers in the jeepney, and they were sent to St. Camillus de Lellis Hospital, San Antonio Lifecare Hospital, and Saint Pascal De Baylon Hospital.
According to the initial investigation, a female student driving a pick-up truck from Bauan toward Batangas City struck the jeep as it was crossing the bypass route near Barangay Balimbing.
The pickup truck veered off the side of the road and collided with a parked tricycle that was selling pandesal, while the jeep overturned due to the impact of the accident.
According to the San Pascual Police, the incident’s participants have already been dealt with.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to provide aid to the injured. The victims, comprising mostly commuters and drivers, were immediately transported to nearby hospitals, including Batangas Medical Center and St. Dominic Medical Center.
Officials say that out of the 16 injured, four are in critical condition, while the others sustained moderate to minor injuries. Authorities are still assessing the situation and confirming the exact number of vehicles involved.
The accident caused significant traffic delays along the busy highway, with authorities deploying personnel to manage the flow of vehicles and clear the wreckage.
Police investigators are conducting a thorough examination of the scene to determine the precise cause of the collision, including reviewing possible factors such as speeding, vehicle malfunction, or driver error.
Batangas Police Chief, Senior Superintendent Ernesto Cruz, urged motorists to exercise caution, especially during peak travel hours and rainy conditions that could affect road safety.
Concerned about the recent rise in traffic accidents in the area, locals demanded that traffic laws be strictly enforced.
