BUGUIAS, Benguet – Three minors died while thirteen others were injured after a fully loaded Ford Fiera jeep fell off a 10-meter deep ravine at sitio Naduguan, Baculungan Sur, here, Friday afternoon.
Chief Inspector Peter Dapiyan, chief of the Buguias Municipal Police Station, identified the fatalities as Leo Tullabang, 9; Jay-ar Tullabang, 10 and Fred Elmer Quinto Bagni, 14 while those injured were named as Justin Sab-it Sabayao, 26; Lenonora Camilo Taynan, 40; Nestor Pedro Tullabang, 45; Bernadette Adel Tullabang, 39; Connie Bilanggo Taynan, 31: Reynald Camilo Taynan, 12; Ryan James Camilo Taynan, 15; Kesha Dampag Almoda, 14; Judy Nagayos Dominguez, 29; Rose Sab-it Quintos, 51; Junjun Eblahan Naban, 24 and Jeneson Balisteros de Guzman, 45.
Initial police investigation showed that the vehicle which was driven by Menargon W. Quintos, 50 and a resident of Baculungan Sur, Buguias, Benguet was travelling along the said place when it allegedly suffered from mechanical trouble forcing the driver to reportedly lose control of the vehicle until it fell off the garden below the road inflicting injuries to its occupants.
Responding police operatives and volunteer rescuers immediately rushed to the accident scene and brought the victims to the Lutheran District Hospital for medical treatment but the minors reportedly died while undergoing close medical supervision.
The injured jeepney passengers are now confined in the said hospital for further observation of the injuries that they sustained as a result of the vehicular accident.
By Dexter A. See