Twenty-three individuals are now in stable condition following a collision between a van and an SUV early Sunday morning, June 22, 2025, along a curved stretch of the national highway in Barangay Ili Sur, San Juan, La Union.
The SUV was reportedly driven by a 13-year-old girl, a Grade 7 student and resident of La Union, accompanied by another minor, aged 14, who was also inside the vehicle.
The van, which was carrying 21 passengers including the driver, had departed from Metro Manila and was en route to the northern region.
According to PMAJ Reynante Organista, chief of police of San Juan, initial investigation suggests the SUV veered into the opposite lane, causing the head-on collision with the oncoming van.
The crash occurred at approximately 5:14 a.m. in a sharp curve section of the road.
All injured individuals were rushed to a nearby hospital and are now reported to be in stable condition.
Meanwhile, authorities have placed the underage driver under the custody of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) as investigations continue into the incident.