3 dead, 15 injured as jeep falls off cliff in La Union

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, Philippines (The Philippine Star) – Three men were killed and 16 passengers were seriously injured when the passenger jeep they were riding plunged into a 30-meter deep ravine in the mountainous village of Ramot in Santol, La Union this morning.

Senior Superintendent Ramon Purugganan, La Union police director, identified the fatalities as Anthony Bagawe Jr.; Luciano Dangla, 42, both residents of Barangay Sasaba of the same town; and Lorenzo Ancheta, 25, of Barangay Ramot.

Bagawe and Ancheta were separately brought to the Balaoan District Hospital and Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center but were both declared dead on arrival while Dangla expired while undergoing treatment.

The injured were identified as Bernie Capcapen, 19; Jonathan Comay-ao, 19; Gawili Asislo, 57; Allan Astudillo, 18; Pacita Colas, 40; Jovita Esteban, 47; Feliza Bagawe, 60; Clemente Damaso, 72; Rosemarie Uya, 42; Johnson Alfonso, 23; Ben Ligo, 43; Olivia Ligo; Gloria Jose, 13; Mike Jose, 9; and the driver Domingo Dangla, 30.

Purugganan said that the accident happened at around 9:00 a.m. when the passenger jeep, with plate No. AVU-896, just came from the remote area of Sasaba near the boundary of La Union and Benguet.

He said that the jeep allegedly lost its break while traveling down the road. The driver tried to prevent the accident by crashing it into the road side, but the vehicle fell down and turned-turtle until it plunged into the ravine, Purugganan added. (report from Jun Elias, Philstar.com)