
ZAMBOANGA CITY–Three people, two of whom were teenagers, were killed while five others were wounded when a passenger jeep fell off a ravine in the Zamboanga del Norte town of Katipunan, police said Friday.
Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) information officer, said the accident occurred along the provincial road of Barangay Seroan, Katipunan at about 3:40 p.m. Thursday.
Galvez identified the fatalities as Jeann Quitoan, 13, a Grade 7 student; Ira Quitoan, 15, a Grade 8 student; and Wilihado Lumanda, 50.
Wounded were Merlita Quitoan, 38; Rosel Gunday, 39; Angel Encarnacion, Grade 6 student; Jonilo Gumalang, Grade 7 student; Dina Padayhag, 35; and Rex Abuhan, 29.
Galvez said the victims were on board a jeep loaded with cargoes that plunged into a ravine after its engine failed as it was ascending a hilly road.
The elder Quitoan died on the spot while the younger Quitoan and Lumanda were declared dead on arrival by attending physician at the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center.
She said the jeep, which was driven by Abuhan, was traveling from Barangay Dos to Barangay Seroan. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)