Five killed, 25 others injured in two accidents in Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Five persons including a Canadian national and a four year-old girl were killed in two accidents which occurred in the province last week.

At around 3 PM of March 5, a Dang-on mini bus with plate number AYC 908 fell into the creek at Luyucan, Nambaran, this city, resulting in the death of four of its passengers and the injuring of 25 others.

The police identified the fatalities as Luis Tingle, 40, of Casigayan, this city, Cristina Asan, of Taloktok, Tanudan, Kalinga, Uney Kawasaki, 4 years old, Bulanao, this city, and Corazon Espita, 43, of Quezon, Isabela.

Those wounded all of whom are now confined at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Bulanao are the following: Ardy Dangani, 34, married, of Anonang, Rizal, Kalinga; Rowel Eugenio Bactad, 18, single, Alcala, Pangasinan; Nelly Grace Palattao, 19, single, Laya East, this city; Rosalina Garcia; Elizabeth Miana, 40, married, of Purok 2, Bulanao, this city; Joan Estanilla, 19, single, Purok 6, Bulanao; Remy Magmuyao, 28, married, Purok 7, Bulanao; Emilio Puegan, 34, married, of Purok 5, Bulanao; Marisol Baniaton. 22. single, Laya, this city; Mylin Tinipac, 17, single, Purok 2, Bulanao; Russel Umawing, one year old, Maddela, Quirino; Gina Macababbad Umawing, 31, married, Maddela, Quirino; Princess Macababbad, 3, Maddela, Quirino: Jocelyn Macababbad, 49, Appas, this city; Moharmin Dumarayo, 37, married, Dagupan Centro, this city;

Lourdes Campilis, 50, Agbannawag, this city; Angelito Prudencio, 22, single, Quezon, Isabela; Benigno Awingan, 27, single, Purok 4, Bulanao; Eddie Lozano. 50, married, Liwan, Rizal, Kalinga; King Jocel Agsao, 3, Rizal, Kalinga; JoanaMarie Bataoil, 19, single, Agbannawag; Sgt. Celestino Leo Josue, 40, single, Purok 5, Bulanao; Bartolome Sembrano, 54, widower, San Juan, this city; Florencia Lumanao, 72, Purok 4, Bulanao; and Robert Espita, 25, single, Purok 3, Bulanao.

Initial police investigation revealed that the bus which is owned by Raymundo Apil of Marbulig 1, Cauayan City, Isabela and driven by Jessie Bruno of Purok 7, Bulanao was going uphill towards Nambaran when it suddenly moved backwards at high speed.

The bus broke through the railings of the Luyucan Bridge falling into the creek some 20 meters below.

The police said that they still could not determine the real cause of the accident because Bruno fled right after the accident. They, however, expect him to surrender shortly as he has already sent surrender feelers.

In another development, past 3 PM on March 4, Otto Unsinn, 62, of British Columbia, Canada, was hiking to Buaya, Balbalan, this province, the birthplace of his wife Eulalia nee Lumiwan, 56, in the company of EulaIia and 15 ofher relatives when he suddenly tripped on a rock and fell frontward causing him to lose consciousness.

Eulalia, a community care giver, said that her husband failed to break his fall with his hands because both hands were hampered by his back pack so that his face hit the rocks on the trail.

According to Eulalia, it was raining and they were going downhill when the accident took place.

Eulalia said that they tried everything to revive Unsinn but to no avail because the tongue of Unsinn had receded into his mouth.

"We rushed him to the clinic in Pinukpuk Junction, Pinukpuk but the doctor declared him dead on arrival," Eulalia said.

Eulalia had just requested the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an autopsy of the body "for my protection and that of my relatives because we were the only ones there when the accident took place."

The Unsinns who resided in British Columbia since they were married in 1999 were on a vacation in the country. **by Estanislao Albano , Jr.

Photo credit: J. Donaal