Tabuk City, Kalinga – Eight individuals onboard a van bound to Tabuk City were declared dead on arrival at a hospital following a head on collision along the national highway in Aurora, Isabela around 2:45 a.m. of Saturday, July 19.

Initial investigation of the Aurora police revealed that the van came from Baguio City and was tailing another van. Upon arriving at the place of incident, a six-wheeler truck(V1) which was traversing southbound suddenly encroached the opposite lane, hitting the left portion of the first van(V2) before it collided head on to the second van(V3) which was then ferrying the 8 casualties including the driver.

In a message containing initial investigation, the casualties who were pronounced all dead on arrival at the hospital were identified as Oseas Calderon, the driver and resident of Bulo, Tabuk City; Niches Heizle Cagayongan from Tabuk City; Claribel Maling, Bulo, Tabuk City; and Jing Romboa who is also from Bulo. The other four casualties are yet to be identified.

Other passengers of the van were said to be attending a wedding, but information is yet to be confirmed.

The driver and passenger of the other van in front of them were also seriously injured and they were transported to other medical facilities. The truck driver, meantime, was likewise sent to a hospital for his injuries.

Names of the casualties are being verified by Guru Press Cordillera. As of this writing, Aurora Police responded to the queries but said investigation is still ongoing and some details are not yet available.

This is a developing story.