MANILA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and a toddler was injured after a sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into a pedestrian and a roadside house in Sorsogon province, southeast of Manila, at dawn on Saturday, local authorities said.
The incident occurred around 4:10 a.m. local time in Castilla town, when the SUV, traveling south from Manila, veered out of control, according to Edgar Ardales of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The vehicle first struck a 55-year-old man outside his home, who was later declared dead at the scene. It then crashed into a house, killing a 21-year-old man and his 20-year-old partner. Their two-year-old child sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The SUV driver and two passengers sustained minor injuries and were briefly taken into police custody. Authorities said they were later released after a settlement was reached with the victims' families.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. ■
