Three dead as speeding dump truck crushes Isabela jeepney; elderly among fatalities

• Three people died and several others were injured when a dump truck collided with a passenger jeepney in Luna, Isabela, on January 21, 2026
• Surveillance footage shows the speeding truck losing control on slippery roads before swerving into the oncoming jeepney's lane
• The victims included a student, a dialysis patient, and a woman celebrating her birthday; all died at the scene due to the massive impact
• The LTFRB has issued a show-cause order to the jeepney operator and is expediting insurance claims of up to ₱400,000 for the families

A horrific morning commute turned into a tragedy in Luna, Isabela, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, when a speeding dump truck collided head-on with a passenger jeepney, leaving three people dead and several others injured.

The violent impact, which was caught on surveillance footage, occurred along the Santiago-Cauayan National Road in Barangay Mambabanga, highlighting the grave dangers of overspeeding on slippery provincial highways.

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The victims were identified by local police as 19-year-old college student John Rey Mendoza, 61-year-old Mario Dela Cruz, who was reportedly on his way to a dialysis session, and Josephine Domingo, who was tragically celebrating her birthday that very day.

The three passengers died instantly when the dump truck, traveling at high speed, lost control on the wet pavement and swerved into the opposite lane.

The impact was so severe that the jeepney’s roof was completely sheared off, and several of the 11 occupants, including a one-year-old child and a pregnant woman, were ejected from the vehicle onto the asphalt.

A trailing motorcycle was also caught in the wreckage, though its riders survived with minor injuries.

Following the incident, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Vigor Mendoza II ordered an immediate investigation.

The agency has already issued a show-cause order to the operator of the passenger jeepney to verify the vehicle's roadworthiness and determine if safety standards were met.

"Life cannot be replaced, and no amount of assistance can take away the pain of losing a family member," Chairman Mendoza stated. "But we will ensure that the rights of the victims to expedited insurance payments are protected."

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Fatalities are eligible for ₱400,000 in insurance, while injured victims can claim up to ₱100,000.

Luna Police Chief Major Jonathan Ramos confirmed that the dump truck driver is currently in custody.

Investigators found that the truck had skidded while attempting to avoid a different overtaking vehicle, leading to the fatal encroachment into the jeepney's lane.

The driver faces multiple charges of reckless imprudence resulting in h0micide and serious physical injuries.

As of Thursday, most of the injured remain under observation at hospitals in Cauayan City, while local authorities urge motorists to exercise extreme caution, especially during inclement weather when road conditions become treacherous.

In other news, a legal transfer turned violent in Virac when a person under police custody (PUPC) from Pandan tried to break free while being escorted for a preliminary hearing. To prevent the suspect's escape, pursuing officers were forced to discharge their firearms, striking the detainee in the leg after he ignored multiple commands to stop. The Catanduanes Police Provincial Office has launched two separate inquiries: one focusing on the detainee’s evasion and another reviewing the officer's use of force. Following the shooting, the suspect was immediately neutralized and transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment under heavy guard to ensure a secure recovery.

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Still in other news, the Igorot Stone Kingdom has unveiled a new permanent installation depicting Randy Hugo, the tourist whose "Hep Hep Hooray" video became a nationwide sensation. The life-sized statue immortalizes Hugo’s famous arm-raised pose, serving as a tribute to the spontaneous joy and "human connection" he brought to the park. Since the unveiling, the monument has become a major photo-op destination, with crowds flocking to the site to film their own versions of the iconic cheer. This project represents a unique moment in Baguio tourism where a fleeting internet trend was deemed culturally significant enough to be cast into a lasting physical structure.

Source: KAMI.com.gh