Van falls down Benguet ravine; two dead, 7 hurt

ATOK, Benguet – Two persons died while several passengers were injured when a white passenger van bearing plate no. WSY-577 fell down a 20-foot ravine along km 33 here at Tupdac, Atok at around 7 a.m. Thursday.

A police report by regional police director Chief Supt. BanjaminMagalong said the van, owned by Lory Pay-oen and driven by a certain CrisantoKiblasen came from Sadsadan, Bauko Mountain Province and was heading towards Baguio City when the accident happened.

The van had nine passengers including the driver.

Two of the passengers who died on the spot, were identified as; Cynthia Donato, 49, of Bangao, Buguias, Benguet and FelimonAwayan, a staff the Benguet State University and resident of Bahingawan Building km 5, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Other passengers were rushed to Benguet General Hospital, namely; Beverly B. Badilla, 29 of Tawang, La Trinidad; Precilla M. Omacay, 35 of Sebang, Buguias, Benguet; Divina C. Bayas, 40, of Bad-ayan, Buguias and driver; CrisantoQuidlasen, 18 of Sadsadan.

Others were Faustino S. Ta-awan,51, teacher from Sebang, Buguias; Analyn F. Marquez, 25 of Sayangan, Atok and PO1 Andrew L. Fianza, 26 of Pico, La Trinidad.

Faustino Ta-awan and Anilyn Marquez were transferred to Baguio General Hospital for surgery. While Fianza was discharged Friday while other injured passengers remain unconscious at Benguet General Hospital and Baguio General Hospital.
Dead bodies were claimed by relatives and were brought home.