LA TRINIDAD, Benguet , Philippines — Three persons died when a passenger van plunged into a 300-meter ravine in Benguet on Tuesday.
Van driver Rey Batong, 38, died while being treated at the Atok District Hospital. Mateo Ngade, 34, a mechanic from Tadian, Mountain Province, and Lourdes Balog-ang, 69, a resident of Purok 6, Barangay Irisan, Baguio City, died on the way to the hospital.
Police said it took almost four hours before rescuers retrieved the bodies of the victims.
Six other passengers were injured and taken to various hospitals for treatment.
Initial investigation showed the Toyota Hi-Ace (AEN-382) was on its way to Baguio when Batong lost control of the wheel while driving along the highway in Sitio Calasipan, Barangay Cattubo, Atok at about 1:30 p.m.