Twelve people were killed while 20 others were wounded after a multiple-vehicle collision occurred on Labor Day afternoon at the Tarlac City Toll Plaza Exit in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

The initial report from the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the incident happened minutes after lunchtime on Wednesday.

Marvin Guiang, head of the Tarlac PDRRMO, said in a radio interview that a  Solid North bus, an 18-wheeler truck, a van, and a crossover SUV were involved in the fatal crash.

Of the 12 fatalities, six were minors, according to the report.

He said that the impact of the collision left the van a total wreck, resulting in the instant death of the victims.

“Sobra po yung impact ng pagkakabangga, talagang totally crushed po yung mga biktima natin doon sa dalawang sasakyan na na-sandwich po (The impact of the collision was so severe that the victims in the two vehicles that got sandwiched were totally crushed),” he said.

Authorities are still investigating the incident.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to immediately suspend the operations of Solid North Bus following the fatal crash.