The severely injured driver of the public utility jeep (PUJ) that fell off a cliff and into waters off Tagbilaran City will be facing charges after the incident led to the death of three of his passengers and the injury of over a dozen individuals, police said.
According to Staff Sgt. Claus Paredes of the Tagbilaran City Police Station, the driver of the ill-fated PUJ, Jovelito Curangcurang, 32, of Alburquerque will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and serious physical injuries.
Curangcurang who suffered severe injuries has been intubated at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hopsital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City where all of the victims have been taken.
Paredes said that Curangcurang’s PUJ with plate number GVN 823 may have experienced malfunctioning brakes along the downhill Mansasa-Dampas Road causing the vehicle to barrel towards the railings of the intersecting cliff-side VP Inting Avenue.
The PUJ first sideswiped a jeep along the Mansasa Dampas Road before hitting a Baclayon Fire Station emergency vehicle, a Kia Picanto, a tricycle and the railings along VP Inting Ave.
Based on the latest data released by authorities, three passengers of the PUJ have died due to injuries sustained after the vehicle fell off a cliff and turned turtle at shallow waters off Tagbilaran.
The fatalities were identified as Felisberta Cabillanes, 72, of Barangay Cogon in Tagbilaran City, Eusebia Cubian, 56, of Barangay Tangcadan Sur in Loay and Margarito Jamisola, 75, of Alburquerque.
The drivers of the vehicles hit by Curancurang who have been identified as Gene Boloron (PUJ), 41, FO2 Chase Siao (emergency vehicle), Danilo Pagatpat (Picanto), 50, and Genis Bitas (tricycle), 47, were uninjured.
All of Curancurang’s 25 other passengers including a one-year-old and a two-year-old however suffered injuries. (W. Maestrado)