At least 10 people died and eight others were injured after a passenger van smashed into a truck in in Davao City this morning (Wednesday, June 14).
Nine of the victims died at the scene and another succumbed to their injuries while en route to hospital, said police spokeswoman Senior Inspector Marial Teresita Gaspan. The fatalities included the driver of the van.
The van had set out from Monkayo town in Compostela Valley and was travelling towards Davao city centre when it crashed into a Davao del Norte-bound truck travelling in the opposite direction shortly after 5am.
Speaking after the collision, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte has criticised several government agencies for failing to impose greater discipline on drivers of public utility vehicles.
“It seems that authorities have again faltered in their duties and obligations,” he said.
Enacted in 2013, Executive Order No. 30 set the speed limits for all kinds of motor vehicles from 30kph in the city centre to 60kph along national roads.
Vice Mayor Duterte, son of the president, said the city saw a dramatic reduction in deaths from road accidents when the ordinance was implemented, and called on transport authorities to make sure it was strictly enforced.
“To the families of the victims, we regret your loss,” he added.