Chief Insp. Eduardo Guevara, Jr., Orion police chief, said the Innova van driven by Taiwanese Chun Shen Tai, 26, was traveling in the direction of Mariveles, Bataan when it collided with the L-300 driven by Ildefonso Reyes, 55, bound for Nueva Ecija at 12:20 a.m. of Monday.
“Malinaw na head-on-collision ang nangyari. Sabi ng asawa ng Taiwanese, may iniwasan kaya nabangga sila,” the police chief said. The 5-month-old baby is the daughter of the Taiwanese couple. They were heading for their residence in Duale, Limay, Bataan.
Guevara said an attending doctor at the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City pronounced helper mechanic James Castillo, 24, of Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, dead on arrival.
Those injured and treated at the government hospital were the two drivers and four passengers each of the two vehicles. Only Reyes who has a fracture on his leg was left confined in the hospital while the rest who suffered only bruises, including the baby, were already released.
“Nakita ko patawid sa linya namin. Matulin ang takbo,” said L-300 van driver Reyes.
“Malayo pa kinain na kalahati ng linya namin. Umiwas na driver namin, nag-shoulder na pero nakasunod pa rin ang Innova,” mechanic Joel Calejan, 34, of Sta. Rosa Nueva Ecija, said. He was complaining of an aching neck.
The L-300 van was heavily damaged on its left side and its front left tire detached. It is the service vehicle of workers of West Coast Transport Corp. of Nueva Ecija.
The wrecked Innova is some meters away from the other vehicle and rested on its side on a ricefield.
“The Taiwanese national driving the Innova is under the custody of the Orion police. He will be charged for reckless imprudence resulting in Homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property.” Guevara said.
