Benguet crash death toll rises to 13, 5 injured

BAGUIO CITY—A spirited group of residents of Buguias, Benguet, who had come from a local politician’s thanksgiving party, traveled through rain and heavy fog on the Halsema Highway on their way home to Barangay (village) Abatan on Saturday afternoon.

But tragedy struck when the driver of their Ford Fiera lost control of the wheel, causing the vehicle to fall into an 80-meter ravine in the subvillage of Bayoyo in Buguias, killing 13 people and hurting five others.

Buguias is an upland community that grows salad vegetables.

Ten passengers were dead when policemen and volunteer rescue workers reached the bottom of the ravine, said Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, Cordillera police director.

The deaths rose to 13 after three of the passengers taken to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) in La Trinidad did not survive. Five others remained under observation, according to reports from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

A passenger, Jerry Bisaya Atas, escaped unhurt as he managed to jump out when he saw the vehicle swerve off the road, Magalong said.

The utility vehicle was bound for Barangay Abatan carrying people who had attended an election victory party held for Mayor Melchor Diclas in Barangay Natubleng when the accident happened around 2:30 p.m., Magalong said.

Police said driver Ambrocio Menzi Jr., 42, one of the survivors, lost control of the vehicle causing it to hit mountainside vegetable plots before plunging into the ravine.

Investigators were trying to determine if the driver was at fault or if the vehicle had a mechanical defect, he said.

Police identified the fatalities as Biana Olsim, Manuel Langbis, Bino and Kimberly Waclin, Melania and Arnaldo Madiano, Alfredo Pattian, Ferdilyn and Melanio Igualdo, and Erna Tosay. Melin Dasdas died while being taken to the BeGH, while Marietta Gaspili and Braille Waclin died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Still being treated at the BeGH were Menzi, Nicolette and Wela Waclin, Basilio Baldos and Honorio Agyapas.

The Department of Health said the Cordillera ranks third among the country’s regions with high rates of road accidents, next to Central Luzon and Metro Manila.—With a report from Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon; and AP