FOUR passengers died after falling unto a ten meter ravine at the disputed boundary between Itogon and Bokod municipality on April 9.

In an interview, Itogon Municipal Police Office Chief Police Inspector Eugene Raymundo said “Upon reaching the area of accident, we initially assessed 3 casualties and another passenger who was rushed to the hospital for treatment but unfortunately expired.”

The casualties were seated at the back portion of the private van, a 2017 model Nissan loaded with 12 people including the driver who jumped out of the vehicle during the incident while the passenger on his right side was not hurt.

The passengers were supposed to attend a wedding and reunion at Madela Quirino when the incident happened.

47 year old Joseph Gavino, a resident of San Viicente Baguio City who was the driver explained the vehicle allegedly lost its brakes causing the driver to lose control of the steering wheel.

As a result three of the passengers namely Gemalyn Lorenzo 28 years old of Ucab Itogon, Antonio Bulay 65 years old of Dadaay, Alilem, Ilocos Sur and Julie Valencia Umba-as 52 years old, unknown address were declared dead on the spot while the other nine passengers whose identity are yet to be confirmed were rushed to Baguio General Hospital for medical attention, seven of the victims are in stable condition while the other two are unconscious.

The case is for follow up and investigation.