A horrific crash involving multiple vehicles at the SCTEX toll plaza in Tarlac City claimed 12 lives—including six children—and injured more than 20 others on Thursday afternoon.
According to Tarlac Provincial Police Chief Lt. Col. Romel Santos, a bus operated by Solid North Transit Inc. slammed into a van queued at the toll booth. The impact triggered a chain reaction involving three more vehicles: a compact SUV, a tractor head, and another compact SUV.
Ten of the fatalities were passengers in the van, while two others were from the SUV caught in the crash. The van’s driver remains in critical condition, while a baby from one of the vehicles miraculously survived.
The bus driver, now in custody, admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Fortunately, passengers on the bus sustained only minor injuries.
Tarlac PDRRMO head Marvin Guiang described the impact as extreme, saying the victims in the van and SUV were completely crushed in the collision.
The crash caused a temporary disruption in traffic, but authorities confirmed that normal flow had resumed by late afternoon. GMA News is awaiting a statement from the bus company involved.