Death toll from AUV fall in Benguet ravine rises to 13

The death toll from the fall of an Asian utility vehicle into a ravine in Benguet Tuesday afternoon rose to 13 as of Wednesday morning.

Police are also looking at human error as the cause of the tragedy, GMA News' Vonne Aquino reported on GMA News TV's "News to Go."



At least three survivors are still hospitalized as of Wednesday morning.

A separate report on Bombo Radyo said the latest fatality died at 2:30 a.m.

On Tuesday night, police said 12 were killed after the AUV fell into a ravine in Buguias town in Benguet.

Most of the fatalities were students of Poblacion National High School who were heading home.

Killed as well was the driver of the vehicle, initially identified as Efren Dalisdis.

Photos posted on Twitter Wednesday from GMA News TV's "News TV Live" showed the parts of the wrecked AUV scattered after the fall.

Isang AUV, nahulog sa bangin sa Benguet. 13 patay habang 3 naman ang sugatan. #NewsTVLive pic.twitter.com/WgK1Q6yHz7

— GMA News (@gmanews) September 10, 2014
 
 

An initial investigation showed the vehicle was crossing an upward slope in Barangay Poblacion Central at 4 p.m. It stopped to pick up three more students.

But when it tried to resume its climb, the engine conked out and the vehicle fell into the ravine.

Eight were killed on the spot.  — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News