Police identify 11 victims in Mt. Province road crash

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MANILA, Philippines—Police on Monday named 11 of those killed after a passenger jeepney plunged into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province on Sunday.

Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, Cordillera police director, identified the victims who were declared dead on arrival the Bontoc General Hospital as Sherleene Benis, Maryanne Camfoli, Chuwarey Arokod, Jonalyn Sallongen, Teresa Aronchay, Chagon Chamkas, and Adelene Domakyon.

He said that Helen Lachika, Chanda Chamkas, Delia Sumilao, and Melvin Aronchay alias “Poking” died while undergoing treatment.

Police have yet to release the names of those injured in the road accident.

Magalong told reporters that the jeepney’s wheels slipped from the side of the road after its driver Antonio Cordag Dulawan stopped to retrieve a passenger’s luggage at around 2 p.m.

The jeepney, bearing license plate ACZ 135, was on its way to Dalican village when it plunged roughly 150 meters down a ravine.

“Nung dumulas daw yung gulong, sabi nung driver hindi na niya na-control yung vehicle [the driver said that he lost control of the vehicle after its tires slipped],” Magalong said, adding that the weather was “gloomy” and the road was “bumpy and slippery” at the time of the accident.

Dulawan told police that the passengers who sat on top of the vehicle jumped off, causing the vehicle to tip towards the ravine.

Dulawan, who was among those injured, has been placed under custody by the Bontoc police for further investigation.