Eight people died after a 10-wheeler truck carrying sacks of palay (unhusked rice) hit a tree in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija province on Saturday morning.

Police identified seven of the the fatalities as Salvador Pacillo, Jerry Gaspar, Narciso Ortis Jr., Romeo Ortiz, a certain Carlos, Ayong Villanueva and Fidel Ayap.

Glorioso Tobias, a survivor and the truck's driver, the vehicle's breaks failed while he was taking a sharp turn. He said the truck rammed into a big acacia tree.

A radio report said the eight occupants of the vehicle died on the spot. The incident took place in Barangay Tayabo around 9 p .m. -- Report from radio dzMM