The truck was operated by a drunk driver, according to police.
Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lei Ogumoro said traffic officers and medics were dispatched to the scene in front of Dandan Elementary School after receiving a report of the auto-auto crash at 3:30 a.m. yesterday.
Preliminary investigation showed that a black Mazda SUV, operated by 37-year-old Stephen Limes Jr. was heading south on Dandan Road when a white Toyota pick-up truck operated by Angel M. Palacios, who was heading north, lost control of his vehicle and swerved onto the opposite lane, colliding with the Mazda SUV.
The passengers of the Toyota pick-up truck were Calvin A. Fitial, 25, Milton K. Minor, 22, Doming Dela Cruz, 23 and Aniceto T. Taitano, 20.
Fitial was the front passenger while the three others were seated on the pick-up’s bed.
Ogumoro said due to the impact of the crash, Minor, Dela Cruz and Taitano were ejected from the truck.
Medics transported the passengers of the truck to the Commonwealth Health Center emergency room.
Taitano succumbed to severe head trauma, a fractured skull, swelling and bleeding to the brain.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit but was pronounced dead at 8:40 a.m. yesterday
Fitial sustained lacerations on his forehead and complained of pain in his left thigh.
He was released after treatment.
Minor complained of pain in his right foot and neck and was also released after he was treated.
Dela Cruz sustained multiple fractures and lacerations to his legs and right arm.
He was admitted for further treatment and surgery.
Limes was not injured
Traffic officers learned that Palacios had been drinking alcohol prior to the incident.
Palacios suffered scratches to his face, right arm and complained of pain on his head. He was treated but was arrested for reckless driving and driving under the influence.
The police officers found Palacios’ breath-alcohol concentration was .130 percent, which is above the legal limit of .08.
He was cited and escorted to the Department of Corrections, where he was booked and detained.
Ogumoro said the weather was clear and the road surface was dry at the time of the accident.
Traffic officers concluded that Palacios caused the crash by encroaching on the opposite lane and colliding with the Mazda SUV.
Ogumoro said alcohol was one of the factors to this case but speed has not been ruled out.
The Mazda SUV suffered extensive damage to its front portion, including its left side while the Toyota pick-up suffered extensive damage to its left side and front windshield.
