MANKAYAN, Benguet – A 50-year old woman died while seven others were injured after their van suffered mechanical defect and plunged into a 50-meter deep ravine along the Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes national road, particularly at Km. 3 Tabio, here, recently.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Aida Balanban Paldingan, 50, married, a resident of Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet while those injured were named as Romy Dulaypan Dawig, 28, mucker at the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company and a resident of Lengyatan, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet; Constancia Paldingan, Segundo, 51, Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet; Jeana Dawig Segundo, 25, Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet; Jeanar Raye Dawig Segundo, 4, Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet; Marilyn Dulaypan Dawig, 34, Dagman, Quirino Ilocos Sur; Roje Jake Segundo Dawig, 6, Palatong, Tabio Mankayan, Benguet; and Sherwin Dulaypan Dawig, 2, Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet.
Probers disclosed that the ill-fated van was en route to Quirino, Ilocos Sur when upon reaching the place of incident, it allegedly suffered from mechanical trouble that caused the driver to lose control of the same until it plunged into the deep ravine.
Five of the victims were rushed to the Lepanto District Hospital for medical treatment while the three others were treated at the Mankayan municipal infirmary. The fatality eventually expired while her companions who were treated at the Lepanto District Hospital for eventually transferred to the Bauko-based Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital for further treatment of the injuries they sustained from the accident and those who were treated in the infirmary were eventually released after their minor injuries were treated.
Police investigators are still ascertain the real cause of the incident considering the need to inspect the ill-fated motor vehicle.
By Dexter A. See
