ORPHANED

2-year-old boy survives SCTEX crash; parents among 10 fatalities

- By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO, MARTIN SADONGDONG

TARLAC CITY - A two-year-old boy miraculously survived the fatal five-vehicle collision at the SCTEX toll plaza on Thursday, May 1, but his parents including his mother, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel crash perished in the The boy is now under the care of his relatives, police said.

The tragic accident claimed 10 lives, including the child's parents, and left 37 others injured.

The crash involved five vehicles: a Toyota Veloz driven by Carlo Mojica of San Fernando City, Pampanga; an 18-wheel truck operated by Darwin Cruel of Tondo, Manila; a Nissan Urvan; a Kia Sonet; and a Solid North Transit bus with license plate UVK-941, driven by Teodoro Merjan of Malawa, Lingayen, Pangasinan.

According to Police Lt. Col.

Romel Santos, Tarlac City police chief, the speeding bus slammed into four vehicles that were waiting in line at the toll plaza, allegedly because the driver had fallen asleep.

Based on the report from the Police Regional Office 3, eight people inside the van and two people inside the KIA Sonet were crushed to death.

There were two survivors, one each from the two vehicles.