Truck, passenger van collision in Zambo Sibugay kills 7

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Seven people died when two vehicles, a passenger van and a truck carrying gasoline, collided and caught fire in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police reported Saturday.

Nine others survived while one of the seven fatalities was a four-year-old girl, the police said.

Zamboanga Sibugay Police Director Jonathan Perez said the incident took place around 10:30 p.m. Friday in Poblacion village, Titay town.

Perez identified the fatalities as Froilan Dimasuhid, the truck driver; Joel Villamor, the passenger van driver; Diamay Espina, 4; her aunt Delia; Carmela Billiones; Estarlito Despi Sr.; and Antonia Gantalao, all passengers of the van.

Perez said the truck was on the way to deliver several drums of gasoline in Ipil, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay, while the passenger van was en route to Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte, when the two vehicles collided.

The truck came from Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, while the passenger van came from Ipil municipality, Perez said.

He added that the two vehicles caught fire as the gasoline spilled due to the strong impact of the collision.

Eight of the nine survivors are passengers of Villamor, while the other one is the truck helper of Dimasuhid, he added.

The survivors were plucked out from the two burning vehicles by bystanders who came to their rescue. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)