Most fatalities in the 5-vehicle collision in SCTEX Tarlac Toll Plaza on Thursday, May 1 were caused by traumatic brain injury, said a surgeon.

"'Yung casualties natin nagtamo ng mas malalang injuries, most of them most likely died because of traumatic brain injury," said Jasper Carpio, a resident surgeon in Tarlac Provincial Hospital.

More than 10 died while 37 others were injured in the accident that took place 12 noon on Thursday.

Eight people who died were riding a van while the two others were a married couple inside an SUV.

Carpio said that the youngest fatality was only 4 years old.

Among the 37 injured, three are being monitored in the hospital, including a two-year-old boy. Others have been sent home.

"Most of them naman minor injuries lang halos, abrasions, gagas, 'yung iba may kaunting pasa. Meron tayong tatlong admitted na patients na naalog 'yung utak so for observation lang," Carpio said.

The retrieval and rescue operation took two hours, said Marvin Guian, head of the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

"Pagdating namin doon sa incident scene hindi namin in-expect na ganon kagrabe 'yung dadatnan kasi 'yung impact talaga nung aksidente makikita mo talaga na ganun kalaki kasi napipi nang husto 'yung dalawang sasakyan na na-sandwich after matamaan ng bus, lalo na 'yung urvan," Guiang said.

"Kung makikita niyo lang 'yung nakita namin, parang sardinas na sama-sama sa loob kaya medyo nahirapan kami sa pag-extricate kasi tatamaan mo 'yung katawan ng mga nandun sa loob bago ko sila makalabas, tsaka gagamitin mo 'yung mga extrication equipment," he added.

Emir Shun Añonuevo still cannot believe that he lost his mother and sibling overnight, who were supposed to go to a children’s camp in Pangasinan.

"Sana hindi na lang sila sumama or nagpa-delay na lang sana sila para 'yung accident hindi nangyari doon sa kanila. Maipapangako ko sa kanila mas lalo pa ko magpapakatatatag lalo na at mayroong pa kong kapatid at tatay," said Añonuevo.

The Philippine National Police-Tarlac’s initial investigation showed that the bus was en route to Pangasinan from Cubao when the driver dozed off.

"Nakwento po niya sa ating imbestigador na naidlip daw po siya kaya po ganun ang nangyari. Namalayan na lang po niya na bumangga na po siya," said Police Lieutenant Colonel Romel Santos, Tarlac PNP chief of police.

Several fatalities reported in multiple-vehicle collision on SCTEX