69-yr.-old woman on way to Simbang Gabi in San Mateo, Isabela hit by kolong-kolong driven by 69-yr.-old man

San Mateo, Isabela – A 69-year-old woman on her way to church with her family to attend Simbang Gabi died after being hit by a kolong-kolong along a road in San Mateo, Isabela earlier this week.

The victim, identified by the alias “Perly,” was aboard a tricycle with her 73-year-old husband, alias “Rogel,” and her 53-year-old sister-in-law, alias “Marie,” when the incident occurred on December 18, 2025.

Simbang Gabi is a traditional series of dawn masses celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church in the days leading up to Christmas.

Police said that while on their way to the church in town, Rogel, who was driving the tricycle, briefly parked by the roadside to adjust his raincoat as it was raining that night.

During that time, Perly got off the tricycle and went to the back of the vehicle while waiting for her husband to finish adjusting his raincoat.

Moments later, Perly was struck by an oncoming kolong-kolong driven by a 69-year-old man.

Perly sustained severe injuries to various parts of her body due to the force of the impact. Marie was also injured after the kolong-kolong hit the tricycle following the collision with Perly.

Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, but Perly later succumbed to her injuries, while Marie is now in stable condition.

As of this writing, an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.

Police said the kolong-kolong driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and that the area was illuminated by streetlights, raising questions as to why the victim and the parked tricycle were not noticed.