2 dead, 7 hurt in Benguet road accident

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Two persons died and seven others were hurt when their van fell into a ravine along Halsema Highway in Atok, Benguet, on Thursday, reports from the police and rescue teams said.

Rafael Valencia, a leader of the 911 On Call Rescue and Medical Team, said rescuers failed to revive Felimon Awayan and Cynthia Donato. Six other passengers of the van and the driver, Crisanto Kidlasen, were taken to hospitals in Baguio City.

Chief Inspector Perlita Tacio, spokesperson of the Cordillera police, said the van came from Mountain Province and was on its way to Baguio City when the driver lost control of the vehicle in Barangay (village) Topdac, at the Kilometer 33 section of Halsema at 7:15 a.m.

The van skidded and fell to the bottom of a 100-foot deep cliff. Police are waiting for Kidlasen to regain consciousness to help them provide details about the accident.