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Emmanuel Tupas - The Philippine Star
May 2, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Twelve people, including six minors, were killed and 27 others were injured when a speeding passenger bus crashed through a column of vehicles at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza in Tarlac City at past noon yesterday.
Tarlac police chief Lt. Col. Romel Santos said a Toyota Veluz sport utility vehicle, a tractor head truck, a Nissan Urvan and a Kia Sonet SUV were queuing at an SCTEX toll plaza in Barangay Bantug when a speeding Solid North bus emerged from behind and hit them.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said the road crash occurred at 12:18 p.m., with the police receiving a report of the incident at 12:30 p.m.
Santos said the bus driver, whom he did not identify, told police investigators he fell asleep while behind the wheel.
“Dozing off while behind the wheel and in full speed, he did not notice he was already approaching the SCTEX toll plaza,” Santos said in an interview over dzBB.
Ten of the fatalities, including the six minors, were
passengers of the Nissan Urvan while the other two were in the Kia Sonet. The two vehicles lay crushed between the bus and the truck. Police have yet to disclose the names of the fatalities.
Santos said 27 people, including the bus driver, were brought to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.
Marvin Guiang, who heads the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said one of the survivors is a child from the Kia Sonet. He said bus passengers sustained minor injuries.
The PRC mobilized its rescuers and an ambulance in transporting patients to the hospital.
Police are preparing criminal cases against the bus driver for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property. – Ric Sapnu
