CEBU CITY – A dentist died after the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) she was driving rammed a parked truck on the national highway in Argao town, southern Cebu on Monday, September 4.
Police identified the fatality as Dr. Annie Irene Rufo. The accident happened 5:40 a.m. in Barangay Bulasa.
The victim was driving a Toyota Rush SUV. Police are still investigating what caused the accident.
Almost half of the SUV was pinned under the parked truck.
Police said the doctor was already dead when rescuers pulled her out from the severely damaged Toyota Rush.
Rufo was a community dentist assigned to Boljoon town, Cebu.
The Department of Health-Region 7 mourned the death of Rufo. “The Department of Health Central Visayas-Center for Health Development mourns the untimely passing of Dr. Annie Irene O. Rufo, one of our committed healthcare professionals. She is part of the Dentist Deployment Program as Dentist II and actively provided vital dental care in remote and underserved areas in Cebu Province-Rural Health Units,” Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH-7 director, said in a statement.
Bernadas said the doctor “exemplified the true spirit of service and commitment to our mission of ensuring the oral health and well-being of our Sugboanon.”
“Her skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the dental profession leaves an indelible void in the realm of public service,” Bernadas added.