Victims are Apayao folk: Jeep plunges into Ilocos ravine; 4 killed, 15 hurt4

By Freddie G. Lazaro

SAN EMILIO, Ilocos Sur — At least four persons were killed while 15 others were injured on April 23 when a passenger jeep plunged into a deep ravine here in Barangay Tiagan.

The victims were on their way home to Sta. Marcela, Apayao from a family reunion in Quirino, Ilocos Sur when the jeep they were riding in lost its brake.

This caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle which was then traveling downward on the road in Barangay Tiagan.

The jeep plunged into a 150-foot deep ravine.

Police identified the four dead victims as Nestor Tungbaban, Lodivina Angala, Valeriana Bitibit, and Mercedes Bitibit, all passengers of the ill-fated jeep and residents of Sta. Marcela, Apayao.

The 15 injured victims were identified as Avelina Wakan, Virgie Wakan, Marina Tungbaban, Valerie Salvador Bitibit, Esperdion Bitibit, Eliseo Patil-ao, Cleffored Rommel Bitibit, Martin Goyasan, Jun Bitibit, King Martin – the jeepney driver, Betty Geronilla, Freddie Geronilla, Jennifer Bitibit, May Flor Gamilde and a certain "Navie," also all residents of Sta. Marcela, Apayao.

Three other passengers of the jeep were unhurt.

Investigation showed the vehicular accident happened at about 10 in the morning.
The jeep, loaded with 22 people, was going down the road when it lost its brake.

After being informed of the incident, policemen and local officials of this town conducted rescue operations, bringing the injured victims to the hospital.

But four of the victims died on the spot.

The rescuers took the victims to hospitals in Candon City. Eight of the victims were confined in Candon City Hospital, three in the San Martin de Porres Hospital, three in the Rasonable Clinic, and one in the Ilocos Training and Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.

The bodies of the four dead victims were brought to a funeral parlor.

This town is located some 15 km east of Candon City.