BONTOC, Mtn. Prov. — Some 40 people including the driver were injured when an overloaded public utility vehicle, a Ford Fiera, was involved in a road accident at about 1:30 PM of April 8, 2017 at Sitio Sac-angan, Caluttit, this municipality.
The victims attended the celebration of the 13th Lang-ay Festival in Central Bontoc and were on their way home.
Bontoc Police personnel with the BFP, PDRRMO, RED CROSS, PNP, Provincial Security Responders, members of a radio communication group, Bontoc General Hospital personnel and other civilian volunteers responded and helped in the extraction of passengers trapped inside the vehicle.
Initial investigation conducted by the Bontoc Police revealed that Isaias L. Limayog, 54, while driving uphill the vehicle with plate number AYL 720 towards Maligcong, Bontoc and was on first gear but it disengaged and went to neutral so the vehicle started moving backwards or downhill. The driver thought of shifting back to first gear but could not as the vehicle was already descending backwards. He then applied the brakes but it failed to stop the vehicle maybe because it was overloaded. He directed the vehicle to a riprap, got outbalanced and landed on its right side.
Further investigation by the police revealed that there were 40 passengers on board the vehicle including the driver. 16 passengers were admitted at the Bontoc General Hospital for observation as follows: 1) Elsie S. Feken, 68, spinal cord injury; 2) Elizabeth A. Odchas, 41, contusion on left front temporal and lacerated wound on right leg; 3) Madeleine Chinomma F. Limayog, 11, multiple abrasions on flank, right and upper extremities; 4) Lorie-an C. Fomanes, 13 yrs. old (DOB – 04/25/03) with cerebral concussion injury; 5) Mathlyn F. Tad-awan, 29, musculoskeletal strain and cervical; 6) Zaijan Jay F. Tad-awan, 6, contusion on right temporal and right forearm; 7) Hilda L. Saligumba, 46, contusion hematoma right occipital area; 8) Mayen Lyn M. Kediam, 6, contusion hematoma on left parietal; 9) Adriel Ross F. Corcoro, 14, musculoskeletal strain on lumbar area; 10) Benita F. Mang-osan, 62, cerebral concussion; 11) Janine M. Kediam, 12, contusion hematoma on frontal area and dental; 12) Jeehriel F. Limayog, 6, contusion on right elbow and contusion on right lumbar area; 13) Fe A. Sagmayao, 3, lacerated wound on left frontal area; 14) Jemimah C. Fomanes, 15, blunt thoracic injury; 15) Frubella L. Canisi, 23, puncture wound on vertex and scalp; and 16) Susan M. Kediam, 47, contusion hematoma on right parietal occipital area. Clement Sokoken was admitted at the medical ward.
The other victims were sent home by the attending physicians after being given medical treatment. All victims including the driver are from Barangay Maligcong of the town of Bontoc.
Personal belongings of the 40 passengers were brought to the police station for safekeeping.
As of morning of April 10, six are still confined at Bontoc General Hospital. Elsie Feken was referred to Pines Hospital in Baguio City on April 10. One victim was earlier referred to Baguio City.
The driver also mentioned that before they started, he reminded the other passengers to take the second trip since its load was already beyond its capacity but the excess passengers still insisted on riding.
This writer witnessed the driver that morning personally attending to the needs of the victims confined at the hospital. He also paid the hospital bills of some of the victims without informing them.
The driver is also very grateful to God almighty since heavy rains hit Bontoc when all of them were already at the hospital.
The driver and the victims interviewed wish to express their sincerest thanks to all those who helped especially the early responders who were the residents of Sitio Sac-angan and for the private vehicles of Charlie Engngeg and Mr. Ofo-ob. **Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
