ONE person died and seven others were injured, including four police officers and two minors, when their sports utility vehicle plunged into a ravine in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
The fatality was identified as Daisy Delos Santos, while those injured were Corporals Patrick Panganiban, 32, a resident of Barangay Alijis; Jane Claie Batadha, 29, a resident of Victorias City; and Hazel Motin; and Pat. Calveen Corral — all assigned to the Bacolod City Police Office.
Also injured were April Rose Megel, 24, and two minors, whose names are being withheld.
According to records from the Don Salvador Benedicto Municipal Police Station, the victims were aboard a Toyota Avanza, a small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), traveling from Bacolod City toward San Carlos City around 3 p.m.
Upon approaching a curved portion of the national highway at Purok Tuburan, Barangay Pandanon, the vehicle overshot the road and fell into a ravine approximately 50 meters deep.
All passengers sustained injuries and were taken to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center in Bacolod City, but Delos Santos did not survive.
Police said the victims were on their way to the town proper for an outing. Investigators from the Don Salvador Benedicto Municipal Police Station are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.