Van in Ilocos Sur lands on second floor of a home; 14 passengers survive

• A van traveling from Tuguegarao City crashed into the second floor of a house in Barangay Aluling, Cervantes, after the driver lost control on a steep descent
• All fourteen occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and were hospitalized; fortunately, no residents were inside the house during the freak accident
• The group was reportedly on their way to a year-end vacation in Sigay, Ilocos Sur, when the vehicle veered off the Pack-Aluling highway
• The homeowner has initiated a formal complaint against the driver as police investigate whether the crash was caused by a mechanical malfunction or driver negligence

In a scene that looked more like a Hollywood stunt than a morning commute, a holiday excursion took a surreal and terrifying turn on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

A white commuter van, carrying 14 coworkers and relatives, defied gravity when it veered off a winding road and somehow landed squarely on the second floor of a residential home.

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The group had traveled from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and was weaving through the scenic but treacherous mountain passes of Ilocos Sur, bound for a vacation in the town of Sigay.

However, as they descended a steep, curved portion of the highway in Barangay Aluling, the journey turned into a nightmare. According to Cervantes Police Chief Captain Oliver Sari, the driver lost control of the vehicle’s steering, causing it to plow through the roadside and launch into the air.

Witnesses described a deafening crash as the van literally "climbed" the structure, smashing into the upper level of the house.

"It was as if the van took flight for a moment," investigators noted, pointing to the sheer momentum required for a vehicle to reach such a height.

Miraculously, while the house suffered extensive structural damage, no one was inside the residence at the exact moment of impact, sparing the homeowners from what could have been a fatal encounter.

Inside the van, however, the scene was chaotic. All 14 occupants, including the driver, sustained various injuries. Rescue teams arrived quickly to extricate the victims from the mangled wreckage perched precariously on the second floor.

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The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. By the following day, local authorities confirmed that most of the passengers were in stable condition, though the emotional trauma of the "flying" accident remains.

The homeowner, still reeling from the sight of a vehicle in their bedroom, has reportedly filed a formal complaint against the driver.

As of this week, the driver has yet to issue a public statement as the investigation continues to determine if mechanical failure or human error caused the brake-neck descent.

For the residents of Barangay Aluling, the sight of the van suspended in the air serves as a stark, lingering reminder of the unpredictability of the road.

In other news, Toril Police apprehended a 50-year-old resident of Barangay Daliao after he was observed igniting a fountain-type pyrotechnic during the transition to 2026. Along with the fountain display, law enforcement recovered an assortment of illegal firecrackers from the individual, specifically noting the presence of "kwitis" and several "baby rockets." The individual is now facing potential incarceration of up to 30 days and monetary penalties, adhering to the strict city-wide prohibition established in 2002. The violator offered no resistance during the arrest and spent the first day of the year in a detention facility, where he reportedly acknowledged his breach of the local ordinance.

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Still in other news, the holiday season was marred by the discovery of 26-year-old John Lester Amin's remains on December 23, found in a remote area, stripped of clothing and restrained with industrial tape. Amin reportedly left his residence on December 22 for a vehicle transaction; investigators believe his lack of resistance suggests he was lured into the vehicle by someone familiar to him. In a shocking turn for the investigation, authorities have designated a close relative of the victim as one of the four primary persons of interest currently being scrutinized. Police have successfully retrieved surveillance footage tracking the victim's journey from Metro Manila and are awaiting a formal deposition from his partner to proceed with criminal charges.

Source: KAMI.com.gh