5 dead, 2 hurt in Cagayan road accident

Five people were killed while two others were seriously injured when a van slammed into a 10-wheeler truck in Cagayan province early Thursday morning. SPO2 Alvino Sorita, chief investigator from the Alcala town police, said initial investigation showed the truck was going north on the national highway in Barangay Piggatan in Alcala town when the Starex van trailing it suddenly hit the truck's rear part. The van's driver and his four passengers – two of whom were identified as Randy Batobalanos and a certain Pepito – died on the spot, while their two other companions were rushed to the hospital. Truck driver Florentino Felipe is in the custody of the Alcala municipal police, but authorities are still determining the charges that could be filed against him. "Kasi hindi naman siya ang bumangga. Ang Starex ang bumangga sa truck (It was the Starex that hit the truck and not the other way around)," Sorita told GMANews.TV over the phone. He said they are looking into the possibility that the driver of the Starex van might have fallen asleep while driving since the incident happened in the early hours of the morning. "Totally wreck iyong Starex at sumuot iyong kalahati sa likod ng truck (The Starex van was a total wreck after hitting the back part of the truck," the police investigator said. Nevertheless, the truck driver might still face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, said Sorita, adding that they also discovered Felipe did not have his driver's license with him. Police are also checking reports that the van was rented by the victims to travel to Buguey town, also in Cagayan. "Sabi ng pamilya nung van driver, hindi daw nila kilala yung ibang namatay. Madalas daw kasing nire-rentahan ang sasakyan nila (According to the family of the killed van driver, they do not recognize the other victims. Their van is usually rented by travelers)," Sorita said. The two survivors from the Starex van are being treated at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City. — LBG/KBK, GMANews.TV