Sun.Star: 6 killed in N. Mindanao bridge mishap

An overloaded passenger jeep heading for Cagayan de Oro lost control and fell off a bridge Sunday, killing no less than six people and leaving many others missing. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro reported Monday that the Talakag Liner jeep was overloaded when it passed a dangerous sharp curve along Agyoban Bridge. The Agyoban Bridge, which links Talakag in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, has earned the reputation of being accident-prone. Killed on the spot along with driver Alfredo Galon were Hipolito Kinoyoy of Sumilao, Bukidnon; Jerome Aranas, 16 of Mangalay, Dansolihon; Harold James Almaden, 20 of Talakag; Crysuel Villegas, 15, of Talakag; and an unidentified elderly male who kept a wallet in his pocket loaded with ID pictures of Chinese-looking girls. Those injured were identified as Ronald Cailing, the 23-year-old jeepney conductor; Dolores Dalmacio, Johnny Escobal, Sandra Damit, Estelita Carpio, Gibson Bagasbas, Renante Quiñonez, Christopher Bolalahos, Milven Bolalahos and Eric Ubas, among others. Investigators said the incident occurred at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, and feared there could be more fatalities as the strong current of the river off the 50-foot deep Ogyaban Bridge may have swept away many of the passengers. "Efforts to look after the missing victims were undertaken at the moment as we can only see the roof top of the PUJ (public utility jeep) owned by a certain Vicente Borong popping out of the water," said Police Officer Oscar Cabrillos of the Talakag Police Station. Citing initial reports, police said Galon, 52, of San Isidro in Talakag, lost control of the jeep, causing it to ram onto the bridge railings. The jeep fell into the water, right before the eyes of horrified white-water rafting enthusiasts who were exploring the area. Witnesses and survivors' accounts revealed most of those who died instantly were seated at the upper part of the PUJ and thus thrown towards the rocky side of the river. Most of the fatalities were brought to the Somo Funeral Homes while the injured were admitted at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center also in downtown Cagayan de Oro. Regional Officer Dodong Banuag of the Philippine Rescue 2000 said vehicular accident will likely happen along the danger zone of Ogyaban bridge especially at night since there was no lighting facility installed in the area. Banuag told Bombo Radyo that the presence of a boulder at the right side of the road will hamper the motorists and jeepney drivers bound for Cagayan de Oro from seeing the blinding view of a treacherous curve before reaching the Ogyaban bridge. - GMANews.TV