TUBA, Benguet – an 18-year old engineering student of the St. Louis University (SLU) died after a big boulder of rock fell off the mountain and smashed the front portion of a garage van along Kennon Road, particularly at Klondykes, Camp 1, here, Thursday afternoon.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Izeiah Karl Jior Medalle, 18, single, student and resident of Dagupan, Pangasinan and a mechatronics student of SLU while the injured individuals were named as Giovanni Niepo De Leon, Imelda Manlungat Dacumos, Bongbong Habulan Enteria, Ronalyn Piguera, 20, single of Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Joven Besa Bacsa, 33, resident of Bonifacio St., Baguio City and Joseph Manno Alice, the van driver and a native of Kapangan, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed the van loaded with passengers was on its way to the lowlands when upon reaching the semi-half tunnel in the place of incident, a huge boulder of rock suddenly fell from the mountain and smashed the right portion of the van.
The injured individuals were all rushed to various hospitals in Baguio and La Union but the fatality was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians due to multiple head and body injuries.
By Dexter A. See