1 DEAD, 5 INJURED IN BENGUET ROAD ACCIDENT

KABAYAN, Benguet: A municipal councilor from Tinoc, Ifugao died while his five companions were injured after their vehicle plunged into a 50- meter deep ravine at Sitio Mankgew, Barangay Pacso here on Saturday afternoon.

Police authorities identified the fatality as Councilor Mercury Caridad Binwihan, 54, married and a resident of Barngay Impugong, Tinoc.

Those injured were identified as Norwin Polon Carpio, 34, teacher, married and resident of Poblacion, Kapangan, Benguet; Jonathan Wakat Binwihan, 20, single, student and resident of Impugong, Tinoc, Ifugao; Elsa Tabingan Paeng, 52, farmer, married and resident of Nabalicong, Buguias, Benguet; Analiza Paeng Carpio, 32, teacher, married and resident of Natubleng

Buguias, Benguet; and Leizel Ann Pael Dulnuan, 25, engineer, married and resident of Asin, Tuba, Benguet.

Initial police investigation showed that the victims came from La Trinidad, Benguet and were going to Sitio Mangkew to attend the wake of a relative when the vehicle driver allegedly miscalculated negotiating a curve, causing him to lose control of the vehicle until it went down the deep ravine.

Responding residents and personnel of the Kabayan Municipal Police Station, Bureau of Fire Protection Kabayan and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office immediately conducted rescue operations and brought the victims to the Kabayan rural health unit, where Binwihan died while undergoing medical treatment.