AT LEAST three died while several were injured following a road crash in the evening of February 7 along Sitio Lonog Barangay Mabaca Tanudan, Kalinga.
In a police report, the three passengers of a passenger van who died on the spot were identified as Roderick Sucliyao, Marcelina Dupagan Sapon and Crisensia Cayangao.
Nine of the passengers namely Ralyn Lugao Dao-ayan, James Ballay Abuwak, Fernando Salvador Ducasao, Ariane Kathlyn M Dalanao, Leonida Abuwac Puctiyao, Hubert Abuwac, Francisca Dangpason Addagan and Nathaniel Dalanao Jr. who sustained injuries were brought to Kalinga Provincial Hospital and Almora General Hospital for medical treatment.
Initial investigation revealed the vehicle, driven by Jay-ar Ducasao was traversing the national road coming from Tabuk City when it suffered a mechanical defect and rolled to its right side then rested atop the concrete barrier.
The road crash occurred days after the Kalinga Provincial Police Office (PPO) led a multi-sectoral effort to address the high cases of vehicular accidents in the province especially in Tabuk City.
Kalinga PPO noted although vehicular accidents in the last three years decreased with 302 in 2017, 232 in 2018 and 208 in 2019, the number of deaths due to said accidents increased from 17 to 27 to 28, respectively.
Tabuk City has the most cases. Most of the cases reportedly involved motorcycles, drunk driving, no helmet and lack of driving etiquette.