Off the wire
• China's rail freight further declines  • Emiratis cast votes to elect UAE Federal National Council  • China's crude steel output remains weak  • China on full alert to super typhoon  • Pakistan airlines cancels dozens of flights due to pilots' strike  • For tigers and bears, the grass is greener on the Chinese side  • Roundup: Rousseff reshuffles cabinet, cuts public spending to gain support  • (Xi's U.S. Visit) Interview: Productive Xi-Obama summit generates many areas for cooperation: former envoy  • Roundup: U.S to investigate if forces hit hospital in northern Afghanistan  • Vancouver forum aims to help wealthy Chinese families stay rich  
You are here: 　 Home

Nine dead in S. Philippines van mishap

Xinhua, October 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nine people died and five others were injured when a passenger van rammed into a tree in Matalam, North Cotabato on Saturday, a police official said.

Town police head Chief Inspector Elias Colonia said eight of the fatalities died on the spot while the nineth expired while being treated at a hospital.

Colonia said the incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. along a national highway in barangay West Patadon.

He said the victims' Toyota Hi-Ace van was travelling the route from Kidapawan City to Matalam, when it suddenly ran off the road and rammed its left side to a tree.

He said the van's driver, Glendo Singco, was among those injured but was nowhere to be found. He said they have sent a flash alarm to other police units, saying Singco may have gone hiding or is merely seeking treatment at a hospital.

Colonia said Singco may have fallen asleep, causing the van to ram the tree.

"The van is a 2014 model, it's new so we can't say it (accident) was due to mechanical defect. Also, there were no other vehicles around the highway because it was also late," said Colonia. Endi