Seven passengers were killed when a 10-wheeler truck rammed a UV Express van along the national highway, particularly at the intersection of Barangay Libod in this town on Wednesday, authorities said.
Based on CCTV footage obtained by the Inquirer through the Philippine National Police via Issa Llegado, the truck was seen traveling at high speed before the driver appeared to lose control and crash into the van, which was heading toward Legazpi City.
The impact sent both vehicles plunging near a river, with the truck landing on top of the van that was carrying 14 passengers.
The van was crushed almost flat, making rescue and retrieval operations difficult for personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other responders who worked for hours to extricate eight passengers pinned inside.
‘The operation took time due to the weight of the truck and how it pinned the van,’ said Fire Supt. Jeck Miraflor, BFP Albay director, who supervised the rescue and retrieval operations.
In a Viber message to the Inquirer, Police Col. Noel Nuñez, Albay police chief, said the UV Express was traveling from Guinobatan to Camalig when the truck driver, Recson Zamora, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while heading in the opposite direction toward Guinobatan and slammed into the van.
Nuñez said police are continuing their investigation into the incident