MORE NEWS, KALINGA

9 killed, nine hurt in Tabuk road accident
By DEXTER A. SEE

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Nine persons died and nine others were seriously injured, most of them minors, when the truck they were riding in fell in a 150-meter-deep ravine here at Barangay Magabbangon last week.

The victims were reportedly on board a white Isuzu Elf truck bearing license plate number DTW-421, fully loaded with corn to be sold in Tabuk City and Tuguegarao, Cagayan, when the accident happened.

Police identified the dead victims as Betty Bilowan Gumisat; Pecial Dumalas Bilowan, 14; Clinton Dumalas Gumisat, 11; Julian Addawe Ewan, 14, all of Tanudan, Kalinga; Marcial Bobot Domingo, 23, Lakas Miranda, both of Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga; Paul Ewan Cawaren, 26; James Pablo Gallego, and Junior Banya-ao.

The injured victims were identified as Ernesto Tecan, Charlie Palas Tecan, 11; Gremalyn Mabela Pansil, 27; Mariette Mabela Lais, Vergie Bautista Calunggay, 9; Rizaldo Alit Malagyad, 72; Rosana Sungca Golingab, all of Tanudan; and Benny Angang, 16, and Bryan Agwasi Angang, both of Lubuagan.

Police investigation showed the ill-fated vehicle was en route to Tabuk when it developed mechanical trouble that forced the driver to lose control of it.

The driver tried his best to maneuver the vehicle to a safe ground on the national highway, but failed, causing the truck to plunge into the deep ravine.

The bodies of the victims were brought home to their respective places, and the injured victims were confined in the Kalinga provincial hospital and hospitals in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

This vehicular accident was one of the worst accidents in the province in the past several years.