SEVERAL individuals were killed in a road accident involving four vehicles at around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, August 25, along National Highway, at Purok 6, Barangay Canocotan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
In the initial investigation conducted by the Tagum Police Station, an auto rickshaw, driven by Jerson Galan, 30, resident of Purok 6-A Burgos, Barangay Canocotan, and a Nissan Navarra pick-up, driven by Robert Pingkian, 50, resident of Countryville Subdivision in Davao City were both traveling in the same direction heading toward Davao City.
Meanwhile, the Land Car Incorporated Bus, driven by Roberto Jundayan, 44, resident of New Casay, Babay-angan, Dujali, Davao del Norte and the Suzuki Multicab pick-up, driven by Reol Albesa, 38, of Purok Ising, Carmen, of the same province, were coming from a different direction.
When the four vehicles met along the national highway, the rickshaw allegedly took a U-turn which hit the Navarra. The rickshaw was then hit by the bus, and in the process made Navarra collide with the electric post at the center island and hit the front of the Suzuki multicab.
Because of the severity of the impact, the driver of the rickshaw and his son, identified as Jeddy Mecco Galan, 8, succumbed before arriving at the Davao Regional Medical Center while the three other passengers of the rickshaw, including a pregnant woman, were killed on the spot.
Meanwhile, at 9:42 p.m. of the same day, both the drivers of the Navarra and the bus were apprehended.
All the vehicles involved incurred damages and were placed under the custody of Tagum CPS for proper disposition.