A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded at the Tarlac City Toll Plaza on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway last Thursday. Twelve lives were lost, including six innocent children. More than 20 others sustained injuries in a devastating chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles.
The chaos began when a bus collided with a van patiently waiting in line to pay the toll. The van was then pushed into a compact SUV, which slammed into a tractor head parked ahead. The tractor head, in turn, struck another compact SUV further up the queue.
Of the twelve fatalities, ten were passengers inside the van, while two were from one of the compact SUVs. Shockingly, six of the deceased were young children. The van’s driver is fighting for his life in critical condition.
Authorities swiftly took the bus driver into custody. He reportedly admitted to dozing off behind the wheel, a lapse that set off this tragic domino effect.
Among the victims were a grieving couple whose baby miraculously survived the crash. The driver of the van also escaped with his life. Passengers on the bus, thankfully, suffered only minor injuries.
Witnesses and officials described the wreckage as horrific. The tremendous force sandwiched and crushed the vehicles caught in the collision, leaving no room for escape for those trapped inside.
Investigations revealed the sequence: The Solid North Transit Inc. bus barreled into the Nissan Urvan first, pushing it into a Kia Sonet. The Sonet hit the tractor head, which then collided with a Toyota Veloz. This heartbreaking chain of impacts led to the massive carnage at the toll plaza.
Authorities continue to probe the incident while traffic along SCTEX has since returned to normal.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences when vigilance backs down behind the wheel. Families have been shattered, and the nation mourns these lives lost too soon.