BONTOC, Mt. Province -- The vacation of seven local tourists ended in a tragedy when one of them died after their vehicle fell into a 60-meter deep ravine on Friday, April 29, in Barangay Bayyo, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Charity Vicente, 54, while those who were injured were Hector Arana, 64 (driver); Caden Lex Lucas; Mylene Luces, 35; Maxie Almerino, 5; Meliza Almerino, 45; and Vergillio Luces, 38. All are residents of Silang, Cavite.
According to the Bontoc Municipal Police Station, the victims, aboard a black SUV driven by Hector Araňa, were traveling from Cavite to Sagada, Mountain Province via Ifugao-Bontoc road.
However, at around 3:30 p.m. their vehicle encroached the lane of a blue Toyota Tamaraw FX driven by Jocel Ducammol Cuting, 36, a resident of Banaue, Ifugao who was heading for home from Bontoc.
The SUV bumped the Tamaraw FX driver's side door and subsequently went out of the road all the way to the ravine approximately 60 meters deep.
Personnel of Bontoc MPS, Municipal and Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, Bureau of Fire and Protection-Bonto and civilian volunteers rescued and rushed the victims to Bontoc General Hospital for medical treatment.
One of the victims was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.