Twelve people were killed while more than 30 were injured after a five-car crash on the Subic-Cavite-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) on Thursday.

In a radio interview, Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Marvin Guiang said that a Solid North bus, a container truck, and three SUVs were involved in the crash near the Tarlac City Toll Plaza Exit of SCTEX.

Six of the 12 who died were children who were on the two SUVs squashed between the truck and the bus.

Lt. Col. Romel Santos, Tarlac provincial police director, said the bus driver is under their custody and that the driver allegedly fell asleep while enroute to Cubao.

Initial investigation showed that the speeding bus crashed into the two SUVs, sandwiching the vehicles between the bus and the container truck, with another SUV in front of the truck also hit upon impact.

"The four vehicles were lining up near the toll plaza, and it seems like the bus coming from behind was speeding and it sandwiched the Kia Sonet and the Nissan Urvan between the bus and the truck," Guiang said.

The victims of the crash were brought to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital. Yzabela Velez-White/DMS