Three people died while eight others were injured when two trucks figured in a head-on collision on a highway in Atimonan, Quezon before dawn Tuesday, a regional police commander said.

Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, director of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Regional Police, said the fatalities are the driver of the Manila-bound six-wheel (ULD-151) and his two passengers.

Quoting field reports, the official said the incident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. yesterday along a national highway in Barangay Tagbakin.

Palad said the collision impact appeared to be strong as the driver of the other truck (TEX-482), which was then heading toward Bicol, and his four passengers were badly injured.

“Investigation disclosed that the forward truck heading towards Bicol took the opposite lane causing it to collide head-on with the incoming 10-wheel truck which was travelling toward Manila,” said Palad.