BONTOC, Mountain Province – Two minors died while three others were injured when the vehicle they were riding fell off the ravine Wednesday night along Bawi, Barangay Gonogon, Bontoc Mountain Province.
The fatalities were identified as Fausto Querido Ballakis, Jr., 11, whose body was brought to his residence in Sabangan and Nathan James Oloan Ballakis, 4, and his body was brought to their residence at Samoki
The injured occupants of the ill-fated vehicle were named as Jeranie Querido Ballakis, 50 and was referred to Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital (LHMRH) for Orthopedic management;
Fausto Langagan Ballakis, Sr., 51, and was referred to LHMRH; Fernan Querido Ballakis, 18, driver of the vehicle, and is admitted at the Bontoc General Hospital.
Initially, all the five victims were immediately brought to Bontoc General Hospital for further management, but the two minors were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Per report from the Bontoc Emergency Operations Center.
The Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS) received a call-in relation to a vehicular traffic accident involving a grey Tamaraw FX with five passengers on board which fell off a ravine at 10:10 PM of June 16, 2022 along Bawi, Barangay Gonogon, Bontoc Mountain Province. With this, the Bontoc MPS personnel immediately informed responding teams within the area of responsibility for immediate response.
Per police investigation and report, the victims came from Bontoc and on their way home to their residence in Sabangan but upon reaching the incident site, the driver fell asleep while driving causing the vehicle to fall into a ravine 25 to 30 meters deep and landed into the riverside.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey who was earlier informed of the incident directed the concerned offices to provide all necessary assistance to the victims.
He enjoined everyone in prayer for the eternal repose of the souls of the children whose lives perished in the tragic accident and prayers for the healing and recovery of the injured victims.
Likewise, the mayor expressed his profound gratitude to everyone who responded in the incident. The responding teams are Bontoc MPS, Bontoc Municipal Fire Station, Bontoc LGU personnel, Sabangan Municipal Fire Station, Sabangan Municipal Police Station , Sabangan MHO, community people and other volunteers, and SAF personnel from Bugias, Benguet.
Source: Bontoc Emergency Operations Center.
By Bontoc Municipal Information Office
