ONE person died while 30 others were wounded when the vehicle they were riding fell into a ravine in Zamboanga del Sur province, the police said Thursday, December 13.
Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said the accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday along the national highway at Purok Bolinao in Pantad village, Dumalinao, Zambaonga Del Sur.
Galvez identified the lone fatality as Melardo Bertodaso, 24, a farmer.
She said investigation showed the victims were aboard an Isuzu Elf driven by Jerry Omapas, 43, who lost control of the steering wheel after the truck failed to climb an ascending road causing it to fell into a ravine and turned upside down.
Galvez said they were returning home to Rebokon village coming from a birthday celebration at Pantad Beach at the time of the incident.
The passengers, including Omapas, were rushed to the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center for treatment, she added.
However, she said that Bertodaso failed to reach the hospital alive. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)