1 dead, 21 hurt in Benguet jeep crash

BAGUIO CITY — A passenger jeep crashed into the road side on its way to the mine camp of the Philex Mining Corp. on Thursday noon (April 7), killing a passenger and injuring 21 others, the Cordillera police said.

Emily Tomas died in the afternoon while being treated at a hospital in Baguio. Most of her fellow passengers were treated at the Santo Niño Hospital at Philex’s Padcal camp.

The jeep they were riding in was descending the Baguio-Philex Road along Ampucao village in Benguet’s Itogon town, when 47-year-old driver Patrecio Mayeng realized he had lost control of the brakes.

To avoid falling off the mountain road, Mayeng tried to crash his vehicle along the roadside at 12:10 p.m., but the impact sent the vehicle falling on its side, said Chief Insp. Cherry Fajardo, spokesperson of the Cordillera Police Office in Camp Dangwa.

Tomas and another passenger, Cyrene Guinigin, were driven to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center by emergency responder, 911 On Call Rescue and Medical Team.

In a list released by the police, those injured were: Thomas Marquez; Jerrick, Rebona and Cyrene Guinigin; Joan and Niseil Nead; Vilma Aritao; Julina Mangosan; Filipina Sandoval; Flora Mendoza; Dionisio Mendoza and Nelson Batawig.

Also hurt in the accident were Junjun Talon, Roderick Fajardo, Sandra and Khealyn Calias, Juvelyn Magamba, Florina Monay, Arnold Tagar, Jack Guillermo, and Paris Milan.  SFM