Train Strikes Passenger Van In The Philippines, Killing 3

Train strikes passenger van in the Philippines, killing 3 < br /> 2012-05-04 07:12:58 GMT+7 (ICT) CANDELARIA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- A passenger train slammed into a van in the northern Philippines on early Thursday morning, killing three people and injuring several others, police said.The Manila-bound train operated by Philippine National Railways crashed into a white van full of passengers at around 4:30 a.m. local time at the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Masin in Candelaria, a first class municipality in the province of Quezon.Candelaria police chief Superintendent Arsenio Bantayan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper that the van, which was traveling toward Lucena, was speeding when it tried to cross the railways tracks as the train approached. The van was struck violently by the train and was dragged and mangled for over fifteen meters (50 feet) before stopping.Provincial disaster risk reduction and management council coordinator Henry Buzar said three people were confirmed dead while nine others were seriously injured. All of the victims were inside the van and none of the train passengers were believed to have suffered injuries.The fatal victims were identified as Quesea Nicole Bolos, 5; Paula Oliquiano Carasig, 17; and Nancy Oliquiano, who were all declared dead on arrival at a local hospital.

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