COTABATO CITY –– A jolly family gathering in Alamada town, Cotabato province came to a tragic end when the Isuzu Elf that the family members were riding on their way home lost control, killing a 55-year-old man and injuring 14 others along the hilly portion of the highway, police said.
Lt. Rey Arnold Rodrigo, Alamada municipal police deputy chief, said Felix Baya, a resident of Barangay Montay, Libungan town, just came from a family activity in Alamada, when the driver of the Isuzu Elf they were riding suddenly lost control of the steering wheel while negotiating the descending portion of Barangay Ranggayen road at past noon on Sunday, July 19.
“The Isuzu elf brake system malfunctioned, and the driver decided to hit the hilly part of the roadside to prevent the vehicle from careening down the cliff,” Rodrigo said.
Injured were Oplimo, Lawrence Jaod, 35, Vilma Jaod, 51, Jenelyn Oplimo, 33, Lynette Agues, 29, Irish Joy Jaod, 24, Rosindo Oplimo, 31, Ronnie Condeno, 19, and children Nur Baya, Jomari Hasim, Lemuel Poras, Chrisha Baya, and Dres Gonzales, police said.
After the crash, Rodrigo appealed to all drivers to check their brake system before leaving home to prevent similar incidents from happening again.