MANILA, (Xinhua): Seven people were pronounced dead and many others injured in two seperate major accidents in southern and northern Philippines, police have confirmed.
In northern Philippines, three people have been killed and six others injured in a nine-vehicle collision on a highway in Ilocos Sur province, police said Monday.
Police said the crash happened around noon on Sunday in Candon City, where an out-of-control sports utility vehicle (SUV) plowed into multiple motorcycles and cars on a busy street.
One passenger of the SUV and two motorcycle drivers were pronounced dead when taken to the hospital.
Initial investigation showed that the 57-year-old male SUV driver was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.
Meanwhile, a pickup truck collided head-on with a commuter van in General Santos City in the southern Philippines, killing four, including an 85-year-old woman, and injuring 13 others, police said on Monday.
Police Captain Lamberto Rabino, head of the city's traffic enforcement unit, said the fatal crash happened near a roundabout around 3 p.m. local time Sunday.
According to Rabino, the crash occurred after the pickup truck swerved to the opposite lane in an attempt to overtake another vehicle and collided head-on with the van.
Among the dead were the van driver, a 56-year-old male, and his three elderly passengers.
The impact wrecked both vehicles' front, including the hood, bumpers, and engines.
The police launched an investigation into the crash. - Xinhua
