KABAYAN, Benguet – A 67-year old man died while two other persons were injured when their elf truck suddenly fell on a 300-meter deep ravine at Adereg, Gusaran, here, Wednesday.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Calvin Binaldo, married, 67 while the injured occupants of the vehicle were named as Ivan Senot, 43, married, and a resident of Tinaleb, Ballay, Kabayan, Benguet and Lino Ebas, 60, married, and a Barangay Councilor of Ballay, Kabayan, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed that the victim and his companions came from a wake and were on their way home when they met two descending vehicles in the one-way ascending portion of the road.
The two vehicles tried to move back but the elf truck instead move backward to give way for the two descending vehicles in the narrow portion of the road. As soon as the two vehicles passed by the elf truck, the driver tried to maneuver it for the same to advance but it suddenly moved backward until it fell on the deep ravine.
Rescuers immediately rushed the victims to a nearby hospital for medical treatment but the victim was dead on arrival by attending physicians while his wounded companions were transferred to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for further treatment of their injuries.
By Dexter A. See