A truck driver and his helper reportedly died in a four-vehicle collision along the Maharlika Highway Monday night in Barangay Malinao Ilaya, Atimonan, Quezon province.
They were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
Police identified the fatalities as truck driver Romeo Dela Cruz Nazar, 60, of Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, and his helper, Bernardo Baynado Diolta, 43, of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.
A physician of the Doña Martha Memorial District Hospital said the victims sustained acquired fatal injuries to the head and lower extremities after they were pinned inside their truck.
The collision also involved an Isuzu Dropside (NGK 277) with three occupants; an Isuzu Drop Highside (ABB 5251) with two passengers, and an Isuzu Truck.
The vehicles were reportedly moving in a row in an uphill part towards Lucena City, while a Wing Van truck (MGQ 388), driven by Nazar, was going downhill toward Atimonan town proper.
Investigations indicated that the wing van blocked the path of the first vehicle, triggering the massive collision.
Local residents had a field day gathering packs of cigarettes that littered the accident site.
The other trucks were reportedly loaded with soft drink bottles and steel.
There are reports that three occupants got minor injuries and all vehicles incurred undetermined amount of damages.