A tragic five-vehicle collision at the SCTEX Tarlac Toll Plaza on May 1 claimed over ten lives, with many victims succumbing to traumatic brain injuries, according to a local surgeon.
Dr. Jasper Carpio of Tarlac Provincial Hospital confirmed that those who died suffered severe head trauma. “Most likely, traumatic brain injury was the cause of death in many of the fatalities,” he explained in an ABS-CBN News report.
The collision occurred around noon on Thursday and involved multiple vehicles, including a van and an SUV. Among those who died were eight passengers of the van and a married couple inside the SUV. The youngest fatality was a four-year-old child.
Thirty-seven others were injured, with three patients—including a two-year-old boy—still under observation due to suspected brain injuries. The rest were treated for minor wounds such as cuts and bruises and have since been discharged.
Rescue efforts took about two hours due to the severity of the crash. Marvin Guiang, head of the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, described the scene as “devastating,” with vehicles crushed together and victims tightly trapped inside. “It was like a can of sardines. We had to be extremely careful during the extrication,” he said.
For some families, the pain remains overwhelming. Emir Shun Añonuevo, who lost his mother and sibling in the crash, said they were headed to a children’s camp in Pangasinan. “I wish they hadn’t joined the trip,” he shared emotionally. “But I promise to stay strong for my remaining family.”
Initial findings from the Philippine National Police in Tarlac revealed that the bus driver involved in the crash fell asleep at the wheel. “He admitted to our investigator that he dozed off and only realized what happened when the collision occurred,” said Police Lt. Col. Romel Santos.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident as families grieve the loss of their loved ones.
