DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur — Six people were killed and several others were injured after a passenger van reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into multiple vehicles along the national highway in Barangay Paglaum, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, around noon on Tuesday, September 1.
According to the latest police account cited by INQUIRER.net, the silver-colored passenger van was traveling from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, toward Pagadian City when the incident happened.
Investigators said the van was allegedly speeding when it lost its brakes, struck a motorcycle and then slammed into a parked wing van.
The force of the collision pushed the parked wing van forward, causing it to hit another moving Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle with sidecar. The motorcycle driver reportedly suffered minor injuries.
The crash left the front portion of the passenger van severely damaged. Responders also found the van’s driver trapped inside the wreckage.
Five died at the scene
Five victims—three men and two women—were declared dead at the scene after sustaining severe injuries.
The van driver was also critically injured and later died at a hospital, bringing the confirmed death toll to six, according to the Dumalinao Rural Health Unit.
Dr. Patrick Kean Toledo of the rural health unit confirmed the deaths.
Other people involved in the collision, including passengers and motorcycle riders, were transported to hospitals in nearby Pagadian City for treatment. Authorities had not yet established the final number of injured people when the latest report was published.
Police investigation underway
Authorities have secured the vehicles involved as investigators work to establish the exact sequence of events and determine possible liability.
The reported brake failure remains an allegation under investigation. Police have not yet released a final technical finding establishing why the van’s brakes failed or whether other mechanical or human factors contributed to the crash.
The location was also clarified in the latest police account. Earlier reports placed the accident in Barangay Poblacion, but authorities later identified Barangay Paglaum as the actual crash site.
The tragedy comes amid renewed concerns over vehicle roadworthiness and highway safety in Zamboanga del Sur. Recent road crashes in the region have similarly involved vehicles reportedly experiencing brake problems, underscoring the importance of pre-trip mechanical inspections and defensive driving.
For now, authorities are continuing to investigate the deadly Dumalinao collision, while families await further information about the victims and those injured.
This is a developing story. Details, including the identities of the victims, the final number of injured persons and the findings of the investigation, may still change as authorities release additional information.
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