EIGHT persons died and 10 others were injured in a three-vehicle smashup on Wednesday night in Pamplona, Camarines Sur.
The fatalities were aboard a passenger van that collided head-on with a passenger bus that earlier had bumped the rear portion of a tricycle while on an overtaking maneuver.
Police identified the fatalities as van driver Armani Calpe, 63, and his passengers Joepet Bernal, Irene Abas, Mae Acdan, Mark Dave Doctor, Josephine Golgota and two other females whose identities have yet to be established.
Six of the injured were also passengers of the van, three were passengers of a tricycle, and one was a bus passenger.
Police said a Manila-bound JRV passenger bus, driven by Leonardo Camu, was travelling on Maharlika Hiway, Zone 4 in BarangaySan Vicente at around 8 p.m. and tried to overtake a tricycle.
Bicol regional police spokeswoman Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib said the bus bumped the rear portion of the tricycle while overtaking, injuring tricycle passengers Josephine Necerio, Gina Necerio and Marilou Alog.
The bus then collided with the Naga City-bound van on the opposite lane, killing eight and injuring van passengers Lusyl Golgota, Lorena Sarmiento, Marilyn Jubilo, Dalhia Doctor, Ariel Vidal and Ralph Tibar.
A passenger of the bus, whose identity was not immediately known, was also injured in the accident.
The injured victims were rushed to the Bicol Medical Center and Mother Seton Hospital, both in Naga City.
The bus driver is under the custody of the Pamplona town police station.
Meanwhile, three persons were wounded in mishap involving two trucks in Mandaluyong City yesterday at 3 a.m.
Col. Remigio Sedanto, local police chief, identified the victims who were brought to the East Ave. Medical Center due to body injuries as John Liquigan, 25, driver of an Mitsubishi elf truck and his two passengers, Dennis Arcede, 38; and April Zapanta, 29.
The driver of the other truck (AAK-1044) identified as Mitch Filamor, 38, was arrested and will face charges of reckless impudence resulting to multiple physical injuries. — With Christian Oineza