A tragic accident involving a passenger van occurred near the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in Tacloban City on June 10, leaving 14 people injured, including one child.
The van, operated by Grand Tours, was traveling from Ormoc City and had departed at 10:00 AM that morning.
Christine Nillos, manager of Grand Tours Ormoc, confirmed the incident in an interview, saying that while there were initially 14 passengers on board, including a young child, the exact number of passengers at the time of the crash was still being ascertained.
"We are in the process of confirming the list of passengers," Nillos stated. "There was a child among the passengers, but we're still clarifying the full details."
Nillos also clarified that there appeared to be no issues with the driver or the vehicle itself. "This was the driver's first trip of the day, and there were no signs of any problems. In fact, he was joking with the passengers before leaving," she said. "Everything seemed fine before the incident occurred."
The cause of the accident remains unclear, but according to initial reports, the van ended up near the airport, which is not part of its usual route.
Nillos explained, "We are investigating reports that a passenger may have requested to be dropped off at the airport, but this is still being looked into."
Grand Tours has a strict policy regarding safety, and all of their drivers underwent drug tests in April, with no positive results reported.
Additionally, the company has a comprehensive monitoring system in place to ensure that drivers are sober before embarking on their trips.
At the time of reporting, the condition of the injured passengers remained unknown, with some still being treated at local hospitals.
The driver was also among the injured, though the extent of his injuries has not yet been confirmed.
The management of Grand Tours expressed their deep concern for the passengers involved and assured the public that they are doing everything possible to assist in the ongoing situation.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #RoadAccident