Former Miss Mandaue titlist badly hurt in car accident

A 21-year-old beauty titlist is in critical condition after she figured in a car crash at the Banilad flyover in Cebu City last Saturday dawn.

Karina Gajudo, a resident of barangay Talamban, Cebu city was aboard a Mazda 2 (YJD-242) vehicle with a 19-year-old Japanese youth named Junichi Kuribayashi.

Based on the initial investigation of the Cebu City police’s traffic division, Kuribayashi was overspeeding when he reached the flyover from barangay Talamban.

“When it reached the foot of the fly-over, the right wheel snagged in the hump of the flyover and then the driver lost control,” said Joy Tumulak, asst. executive director of the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom).

Traffic investigators said Gajudo’s right leg was found four hours after the accident. Police are still looking for Kuribayashi’s whereabouts after they spotted his license inside the car.

Gajudo’s close friend and former beauty titlist Anna Maris Igpit said she knew very little about Kuribayashi. Igpit said she trained Gajudo for the 2010 Miss Mandaue pageant which she won.

Igpit, who’s in Manila, said she has yet to be updated about Gajudo’s condition. “What I only knew is she needs blood,” she said, citing information she received from the victim’s friends.

Igpit said she bumped into Gajudo last month. Gajudo, who’s taking up a culinary course, is the youngest among the five siblings. “She is well loved by her family,”

“What we can give her is the support,” she said.

Some of Gajudo’s friends posted their messages to her on Facebook. “There is no medicine like hope. As you are healing, may you feel the love from all who care about you. Best wishes that you will soon be back to doing all the things you love,” said Apple Lovah.

Another of Gajudo’s friends, Nanette A. Cortes-Bowler asked her not to let the accident stop her “from achieving her dreams.

“There are lots of opportunities out there for you. Keep your chin up and don’t lose faith in the Almighty. I am praying for a speedy recovery and for strength and courage to pull through this. I love you Karya! You’re one great gal!,” she

Citom personnel immediately repainted the hump with “reflectorized” yellow paint to avoid a repeat of the incident. “Supposed to be it’s the task of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but we just took the initiative,” Tumulak said.