DEADLY PLUNGE
SUV falls into irrigation canal, 13 dead, 2 hurt in Kalinga
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – What was supposed to be a happy family outing ended in tragedy after the vehicle they were riding fell into an irrigation canal, killing 13 people, most of them children, on Sunday afternoon in Barangay Bulo here.
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – What was supposed to be a happy family outing ended in tragedy a er the vehicle they were riding fell into an irrigation canal, killing 13 people, most of them children, on Sunday a ernoon in Barangay Bulo here.
Tabuk City Police Station Chief Radino Belly said a black Ford Everest with plate number AAK 9184, driven by Jail Officer 1 Soy Lope Agtulao, 36, plunged into the irrigation canal and submerged in water at about 6 p.m.
Authorities said Soy died along with her children Cydwin Lope, 6, and Cyan Lope, 4; her sister Sony Puking Lope, 22; her father Alfredo Cutit Lope, 59; relatives Judilyn Talawec Dumayom, 31; Seadarn Dumayom, 5; Jeslyn Dumayom,4; Remedios Longey Basilio, 56; Jessibel Basilio Paycao, 27; Cedric Basilio Paycao, 4; Scarlet Paycao, 3; and Marlo Gel Perena, 6.
Initial investigation showed that the victims were travelling aboard the SUV on the way to Bulo Lake, a popular tourist spot in the city, when the vehicle swerved and fell into the canal.
Cyril Lope Agtulao, 10, Soy’s eldest daughter; and Perena’s aunt Edith Perez, 51, miraculously survived the accident.
Police said 11 victims - seven females and four males - were pronounced dead on arrival at Mejia Kim Medical Center in Barangay Agbannawag this city, while two others were declared dead on arrival at Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Bagangay Bulanao.
Police said Soy was a personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology detailed at Bontoc District Jail in Mountain Province and resident of Cagubatan, Tadian, Mountain Province.
Belly said that according to survivor Edith Perez, they decided to go to Bulo Lake to take photos before Soy returns to Tadian.
Perez said, “Soy suddenly lost control of the vehicle and maneuvered it towards the irrigation.”
Belly said Perez, holding on to Cyril, was the first to go out of the vehicle while the others were trapped inside the vehicle.
Belly also said that Soy’s brother-in-law, Johnson Dumayom who was riding a motorcycle but was a bit far behind the vehicle, was shocked to see to the vehicle fall into the irrigation canal.
Belly added that based on the story of Perez, their vehicle was not running fast because Soy knew they were loaded, but she was surprised to see them fall into the canal.
“Halos ma-shock si Perez nang malaman ang sinapit ng mga kamag-anak, kaya minabuti namin na isailalim siya sa debriefing ng social worker,” said Belly.
The police officer said the victims were still alive when they were plucked from the vehicle by responding residents, but nobody knew how to administer first aid or CPR, the reason the victims were not able to reach the hospital alive.
Experts believe the swerving was caused by overloading since a maximum of nine persons can occupy an SUV.