AT LEAST three persons, including two minors, died after a pick-up suffered mechanical trouble and fell on a 50-meter deep ravine at sitio Gueset, Tingongdan, Itogon, on January 6.
Chief Inspector Eugene Raymundo, chief of the Itogon Municipal Police Station, said a 13 years old and nine years old, including Fely Layno, 60, died during the accident, while injured were Senior Police Officer 3 Jeofel Berlito Layno, 43, who was assigned at the Dupax del Norte Municipal Police Station, 39-year-old Judith Layno, and a two-year-old child, all residents of Nueva Vizcaya.
Initial police investigation showed the vehicle driven by the police officer was en route to Nueva Vizcaya after spending a break in the city when the motor vehicle suffered mechanical trouble, lost control, and plunged into the ravine.
Concerned residents and volunteers from the Itogon Municipal Government and rescuers from Benguet and Baguio City aided each other in rescuing the victims from the accident site.
The fatalities were declared dead on arrival at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center by attending physicians due to multiple head and body injuries.
The injured individuals are still undergoing close medical supervision in the said health facility for similar injuries sustained from the accident.
Authorities are still gathering the testimonies from witnesses to ascertain the real cause of the accident.