2 dead, 17 hurt in LU Benguet road mishaps

SUV falls down Sto. Tomas Road 

By Jun Elias and Raymund Cantindig

Two men died while 17 others were hurt in separate vehicle accidents in  La Union and Benguet last week.

In San Juan, La Union, two men died while another was injured when their motorcycle collided with a dump truck night of May 24.

Jonathan Ugot, 19, and his cousin Mark Jayson Quiton, 23, died while being treated at the Bacnotan District Hospital.

Quiton’s brother Joshua, 16, was listed in critical condition at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, according to town police chief Senior Insp. Rogelio Miedes.

Investigation showed the motorcycle was running at top speed when it collided with the truck driven by Miguel Tumbaga in Barangay Sto. Rosario.

Reports said the motorcycle, driven by the elder Quiton, tried to overtake another vehicle.

Tumbaga surrendered to the police after the accident.

In Rosario town, also in La Union, 11 persons were injured when a truck loaded with cattle rammed another truck and a Toyota van in Barangay Amlang.

Reports said the truck developed engine trouble causing its driver, Ariel Remillo, 23, to lose control of the wheel.

Among the injured victims were dump truck driver Leo Peralta, 34; van driver Ryan Cayabyab, 34, and their passengers.

Meanwhile, in Benguet, six members of a family were injured when their sport utility vehicle plunged into a ravine in Tuba town Sunday.

The victims – Jennifer Garcia, 43; Carolina Lopez-Santos, 50; Elsie Lopez, 44; Lilibeth Sevilla, 54; SUV driver Felicidad Lopez, 48, and nine-year-old Gabriel Lopez, all of Quezon City – were taken to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

The SUV was traveling along the Sto. Tomas Road in Barangay Poblacion when it developed engine trouble.

Felicidad reportedly lost control of the wheel, causing the vehicle to roll backward until it fell into a ravine, Chief Insp. William Willie, town police chief, said.