A JEEPNEY full of passengers survived a 90 meter ravine fall along Marcos Highway, Sitio Luding in Tuba, Benguet, Sunday evening, April 23.
The jeepney was loaded with 18 passengers and was ascending towards sitio Luding after coming from a bible study in Pugo, La Union.
Driver Ricky Patras tried to shift to low gear but failed when he tried to stop for brakes causing the vehicle to move backward to its near fatal fall.
There were no fatalities in the incident and all passengers were brought by Tuba emergency teams to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for treatment.
Out of the 18 passengers who were brought to BGHMC, 9 of them were confined due to multiple physical injuries.
The victims were identified as Mary Jane Patalec, six-years-old, Melita Patalec, 44-years-old, Melanie Patalec, 10-years-old, Maryjoy Patalec, six-years-old, Jolisa Alipit, four-years-old, Feliza Alipit, 40-years-old, Vernon Calaoan, five-years-old, Eliza Calaoan, 42-years-old and Betty Gano 44-years-old, all residents of sitio Luding, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet.
Patras is with the Tuba Police while waiting for disposition of the case.
The Office of Civil Defense Cordillera and Department of Transportation Cordillera have reminded drivers to take extra precaution when highland roads by checking the condition of their vehicles before travel.