BUGUIAS, Benguet – Two peopled died while two others were injured after a private jeepney reportedly suffered mechanical trouble causing the driver to lose control until it plunged into a 100-meter deep ravine at sitio Impugong, barangay Baculungan Sur here around 7:45 pm Thursday.
Senior Inspector Fernando Botangen, chief of the Buguias Municipal Police Station, identified the fatalities as Jay-ar Riquardo, the driver of the ill-fated jeepney and a native of Tabuk City, Kalinga and Mariano Lumiqued Dominguez, Sr. alias Bong and a native of Loo, Buguias, Benguet.
The injured occupants of the jeepney were named as Myrna Bayas Dominguez, wife of Mariano and Jay-ar Calilao Bogar, 23, single, labourer and a native of Conner, Apayao.
Luckily, Jojo Dodong Briones, 18, single, labourer and a native of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur was unhurt in the said vehicular accident.
Initial police investigation showed the Sarao jeepney bearing license plate number DGG-1105 was bound for Abatan when it reportedly sustained mechanical trouble while travelling along the said portion of the road forcing the driver to lose control of the vehicle until it plunged into the deep ravine.
The victims were immediately extricated from the accident scene with Riquardo and Dominguez, Sr. declared dead on arrival in the hospital while Myra and Bogar were given medical treatment before being transferred to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for further treatment.
