Authorities reported that five people died while three others were hurt in an accident involving a truck and SUV in Sto. Tomas, Batangas before dawn on Saturday.
The accident occurred at 2:50 a.m., Sto. Tomas, according to Batangas police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Rodel Ban-o in a radio interview.
The SUV, a Toyota Innova, came from Catarman, Northern Samar and was going to Nueva Ecija, while the truck was heading south, the official, quoted by GMA News, said.
The SUV’s driver fell asleep while behind the wheel, causing the vehicle to collide with the oncoming truck, initial investigation showed, Ban-o said.
The fatalities and the injured were all occupants of the SUV. The injured were already brought to the hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, no one on board the truck was injured, Ban-o said, adding that an investigation is ongoing regarding the case.
The Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) on Saturday meanwhile emphasized the importance of using seatbelts for motorists’ safety while inside a vehicle.
Regional Director Roque I. Verzosa III issued the reminder following the Law Enforcement Service’s outstanding performance from Nov. 16 to Dec. 15, 2023, where they recorded a total of 3,524 apprehensions.
Verzosa specified that the apprehensions comprised 480 for Unregistered Motor Vehicles (MV) Violations and 3,044 for Other Violations.
In a recent report by LTO-NCR Traffic Adjudication Service (TAS) Chief Raul Avanceña, the top 5 violations were: seatbelt at 1,179; helmet, 600; unregistered motor vehicle, 480; overloading: 467 and motor vehicle operating with defective accessories, devices, equipment, or parts: 406
The LTO-NCR chief mentioned that the Top 5 number of violations from Nov. 16 to Dec. 15, 2023, amounting to 3,132, is 111.478 percent higher compared to the Top 5 number of violations for the same period in 2022, which recorded 1,481 apprehensions: overloading, 876; helmet, 221; seatbelt, 186; MV operating with defective accessories, devices, equipment, and parts, 139; and unregistered MV, 59.
Verzosa also noted that the total fine collection surged to P11,439,588.09 in 2023 (Nov. 16 to Dec. 15), reflecting a remarkable 199.57 percent increase compared to P3,818,669.56 in the same period in 2022.
He attributed the substantial increase in apprehensions and collections to the dedicated law enforcement efforts led by LTO-NCR Assistant Regional Director Hanzley H. Lim and Administrative Division Chief Pio Paolo E. Erta.
The accomplishment, he added, underscores the LTO’s commitment to ensuring road safety and regulatory compliance, under the guidance of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and LTO Assistant Secretary lawyer Vigor Mendoza II.