One person died while eight others including two eight-year-old girls were injured in a multiple vehicle collision along a national road in Lila town on Wednesday afternoon.

The fatality, identified as Jonam Case, 46, of Barangay Poblacion in Candijay was still treated at a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

According to Corporal Aresenio Daigdigan of the Lila Police Station, Case may have fallen asleep as he was driving his Mitsubishi Strada causing him to swerve to the opposite lane and hit two incoming vehicles which were headed towards Tagbilaran city.

Case was with his wife, Elsie, 44, and their eight-year-old daughter.

“Basin nakatog to. Akong gi-storya iyang misis natog kuno pud ang iyang misis agtong pagkahitaboa, ang iya pud gisulti na basin naka-idlip iyang bana, ag driver,” said Daigdigan.

Case first hit a Ford Escape driven by Stephen Osborne, 55, then a Suzuki Ertiga driven by Joseph Loquenario, 28, who was severely injured due to the accident.

Loquenario was with four other individuals including Django Almononio, 35; Juwel Reforma, 25; June Tupas, 34; and an eight-year-old girl.

“Base sa giingon ni sir Stephen kadtong ga-drive sa Ford, mi-maneuver siya aring left para mo likay pero unfortunately naigo gyud to iyang back right na tire. Na-igo sa front left tire agtong red na Strada,” said Daidigan.

“After the first impact, kadtong Suzuki Ertiga which comes behind the Ford unfortunately wa jud siya kabantay. Ang kusog og dagan kadto gyung Strada. So wa na niya ma-control mao kadto gyud nag head on ang Suzuki ug Strada,” he added.

Latest information from the authorities indicated that all of the other victims were already in stable condition. (AD)