• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eight people died, while five others were injured after a Suzuki Easyride vehicle they were riding figured in a vehicular crash on December 13, at Sitio Tumampon in Brgy. Tiguib, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
Initial police investigations showed that the vehicle driven by Juan Maratas was descending on a steep downhill slope when its brakes allegedly malfunctioned, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
As a result, the vehicle flipped over and landed into a rocky ravine
While Maratas managed to survive, declared by the police as dead on arrival at the Bindoy District Hospital were Edwin Dequit, Zenaida Sabanal, Libby de Jesus, Ernesta Villasco, Anabelle Devero, and Elphy Deguit, a Barangay Health Worker (BHW).
PLt. Stephen Polinar, Public Information Officer of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, disclosed that two more passengers later died at the hospital, bringing to eight the total number of fatalities. Chinly Magalso and Artillana Deguit expired while being treated in same medical facility, according to the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
Also undergoing treatment in the same medical facility were survivors identified as Fibronia Agacaoili, Dehino Maylinda, Maratas and two minors – aged 13 and 8.
The vehicle, loaded with 12 passengers, was on its way to a cemetery to attend a death anniversary, when the vehicular crash took place.*
