Pregnant woman dies, 9 hurt as van falls into ravine in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – A pregnant passenger died and nine others were hurt after a Manila-bound private van fell into a 40-foot ravine along the Quirino Highway in Tagkawayan town in Quezon province Sunday morning, police said.

In a report, Chief Insp. Dandy Aguilar, Tagkawayan police chief, said the Toyota Hi-Ace van was negotiating a descending section of the highway when its driver, Alinor Lomondot, lost control and the vehicle slammed into a waiting shed in Barangay (village) San Francisco before rolling into a ravine.

The incident happened at about 4:30 before dawn, police said.

All occupants of the ill-fated vehicle sustained injuries and were brought to the Ma. Lourdes Eleazar Memorial Hospital in Tagkawayan town but Sagira Haji Ebrahim, who was reportedly pregnant, died along the way.

The van driver and passengers Salmira Haji Ebrahim, Alnor Lomondot, Karen Galecia, Don Robert Galecia, Jericho Sablayan, Jonard Pusngan, Camadoleng Lomondot and one alias Allan were all confined at the hospital. /cbb