The death toll in the Tagbilaran City road accident, which involved a jeep that plunged into the Tagbilaran Bay, rose to three on Thursday night, while two of 26 injured individuals remained in critical condition.

The fatalities were identified as Cabillanes Felexberta, 70, of Tagbilaran City, Margarito Jamisola, 75, of Alburquerque and Eusebia Cubian, 56, of Loay.

Felexberta and Cubian who were rushed to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City following the accident at 3 p.m. were declared dead on arrival while Jamisola succumbed to his injuries at 6 p.m. at the same health facility.

Among those injured were two babies, aged one and two, based on an initial list of victims released by GCGMH.

According to authorities, all of those injured and killed were riding one public utility jeep (PUJ) which barreled downhill along the Mansasa-Dampas Road hitting another jeep, an emergency response vehicle and a sedan before falling off a cliff along VP Inting Avenue.

According to Gene Boloron who was driving the other jeep which was hit by the ill-fated PUJ, the latter’s brakes appeared to have malfunctioned.

The PUJ, driven by one Jovelito Curangcurang and plied the Tagbilaran-Loay route, first sideswiped Boloron’s jeep before hitting a Baclayon Fire Station emergency vehicle which was travelling from Baclayon to Tagbilaran City and a Kia Picanto which was headed towards Baclayon along VP Inting.

The three vehicles rammed by Curangcurang did not stop the speeding jeep as it slammed into the cliff-side road’s railings and fell into the sea, said Boloron.

All of the victims were rescued by the TaRSIER 117 (Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Response) and ambulances from various hospitals and taken to the GCGMH.

Curangcurang and one still unidentified woman have been intubated while one Janine Remotado remained in critical condition.

Meanwhile, FO2 Chase Siao who was driving the emergency response vehicle, Danilo Pagatpat, 50, who was driving the Pia Picanto and Boloron were uninjured.

Other victims are as follows: