• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The death toll in a vehicular crash on February 21 in Mabinay, Negros Occidental, has risen to 15, after one of three injured victims died while undergoing treatment last night, provincial police spokesman PLt. Stephen Polinar disclosed in an update on the incident.
All of the 15 fatalities are livestock buyers, Polinar said.
The late addition to the list of fatalities, as reported by the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, was Almer Egoogon.
The 14 other fatalities were earlier identified by NORPPO as Ireneo Magos, 37; Fe Decipolo, Rolindo Decipolo Sr, 63; Jemboy Egoogan, Rolindo Decipolo Jr., 29; Marlon Soiedad, 46; Rex Decipolo, 33; Rene Magos, 46; Allan Flores,36; Allen Pocong, 44; Remond Llenes, 29; Roy Magos, 29; Leo Soreño, 43, and Jacob Labrador, 28, all residents of La Libertad, Negros Oriental.
The two injured survivors are Antonio Toreno, who is the driver of Mitsubishi Fuso Canter truck, and Jovanni Flores, according to Polinar.
Initial police investigations revealed that the truck was on its way to Bayawan City when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle and fell off a ravine along the national highway of Sitio Tubod in Brgy. Bulwang, Mabinay town.
Polinar disclosed that the ill-fated vehicle was loaded with 17 occupants, including the driver, when the incident took place.
The two injured passengers are currently being treated for their injuries at the Mabinay Community Hospital.
Some of the fatalities were reported to have been pinned to death.*
