AT LEAST 41 passengers were injured when a public utility mini bus almost fell into a ravine after encountering mechanical problems at Sitio Mauwuy, Barangay Chupac, Barlig, Mountain Province on October 2.
Chief Inspector Robert Wong, Mountain Province Provincial Police Office information officer, said the mini bus was on its way to Barlig when it encountered mechanical defect.
Wong added the driver was able to maneuver the bus which fell on its left side and avoided the deep ravine on his right side.
Members of the Barlig, Natonin Municipal Police Station and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office together with concerned citizens from the nearby barangays responded to the vehicular accident where 41 passengers were injured while nine others were left unscathed.
The driver, identified as John Matib Gamonnac, 39, was brought to the Barlig Municipal Police Station after medical examination while eight of the 33 injured passengers were transferred to the Bontoc General Hospital for further medical treatment.
In Baguio City, one died and 16 other were hurt after a public utility jeepney (PUJ) hit a store in the morning of October 3.
In a report coming from the Police Regional Office Cordillera, Angela Mendoza was rushed by responding citizens to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center but did not make it alive.
Initial investigation revealed the PUJ driven by Paul John Segundo Quioas, 39, was ascending the Kadaclan Village road heading towards Loakan when the engine suddenly stopped and the PUJ rolled over hitting a store.
As a result, 16 persons were injured and were brought to the hospital for treatment including Mendoza.
Earlier, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan have identified based on data coming from the Baguio City Police Office of vehicular traffic accidents to be the leading number of incidents occurring daily in the city.
BCPO director Ramil Saculles have called on private and public motorists to make the necessary inspection and maintenance of their vehicles and to abide by the rules on basic traffic regulations to prevent the occurrence of vehicular traffic accidents in the city.