In a span of five days, three vehicular accidents in Kalinga, Benguet, and Mountain Province claimed 11 lives and injured eight other individuals from April 16 to 21.
A family of four perished when the private car they were riding fell into a 150-meter ravine in Gonogon, Bagumbayan, Tabuk City, Kalinga while they were on their way home to Conner, Apayao on April 16.
The victims identified as church pastors Marcelo Sagyaman and his wife, Marivic, their two children Marvin, 27 and Azrel, 12 came from Tadian, Mountain Province before the accident.
Tabuk City police reported Marcelo miscalculated and lost control of the Starex van while traversing a curved portion of the road, causing it to plunge on the roadside to the Chico River below. Rescuers from Kalinga and villagers retrieved the bodies of the victim, who were declared dead on the spot.
The Sagyaman family is survived by their only son.
In Kapangan, Benguet, Datakan Punong Barangay Jeffrey Batinay Marcelo, who was also the president of the Association of Barangay Councils, died while six of his companions survived when their vehicle encountered a mechanical failure at Sitio Abkel, Gaswiling on April 20.
The victims came from Sitio Baguionas and were traversing downhill when the vehicle malfunctioned and hit the riprap.
Police reported Marcelo, who was running for councilor, jumped out of the vehicle but got pinned by an iron bar on the rear portion of the vehicle causing his instant death.
Injured persons were Francis Sagandoy, Kapangan Councilor Lauro Lorenzo, Jomari Batinay, Ivie Amor Marcos, Claudia Katimo, and Lanie Bitawan.
In Besao, Mountain Province, it took 11 hours before government personnel and civilian volunteers discovered that a vehicular accident took place at Sitio Bunga early morning of April 21.
Rescuers and volunteers retrieved six bodies past 4 p.m. at the accident site, or 11 hours after a Tamaraw FX fell into a 100-meter ravine between 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. of the same date.
The fatalities were identified as Rhema Sumingwa, 18 years old; Merley Docyogen, 16; driver Dalog Mangallay, 18; Hazel Solang, 19; Sap-at Alfonzo, 20; and Lip-aw Aligan, 16.
The two survivors Novelyn Sagantiyoc, 17 and Lander Maticyeng, 16, were brought to the Besao District Hospital for medical attention. Maticyeng was then brought to the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital in nearby Bauko for further treatment.
The police responded to the accident site at 4 p.m. after receiving the report from a resident who came from his field and heard the cry for help from one of the survivors.
The students were said to be traveling to Barangay Poblacion when the accident happened.
The remains of Sumingwa and Docyogen were brought to their residences in Barangay Catengan, while Alfonso, Solang, Mangallay, and Aligan were transported to their homes at Sitio Bab-asig, Patiacan, Quirino in Ilocos Sur. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 17, 2024
