ROXAS, Isabela – A woman and her infant daughter died after a sports utility vehicle, driven by a retired Army officer, rammed their house in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Saturday, police said Sunday.
Claire Daluping, a 39-year-old housekeeper, died on the spot while her six-month-old daughter, Kawhi, died at the hospital, after the vehicle hit a wall of their house in Sitio (sub-village) Dananao in Barangay (village) Lacnog at 3 p.m., Police Major Gary Gayamos, Kalinga police spokesperson, said.
Wounded were Kristell Gasatan, 15, and Beverly Daluping, 14. Both were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Initial investigation showed that the driver, Edwin Ortiz, 65, a retired Army officer and a resident of Tabuk City, was on his way home to Isabela when he overtook another car, which suddenly swerved to the left lane.
When he tried to stop his vehicle, he mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead, causing him to hit the house.
TRAGEDY. A mother and her six-month old daughter died when a vehicle rammed their house in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Saturday afternoon. (Photo from PNP-Tabuk City)
The mother and daughter were in front of the house when Ortiz’s vehicle came crashing to the wall.
The impact destroyed the house’s facade and the vehicle.
Ortiz was placed under police custody while and will face a formal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with double homicide and multiple physical injuries.