Wife dead; husband, kids hurt as van falls off cliff

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – A 40-year-old woman was killed while her husband and two children were injured when their van fell from a cliff in Bontoc, Mountain Province last Friday.

Novie Bongengngeng, of Aguid, Sagada, Mountain Province, died on the spot while her husband, Joseph, 40, and children – Ariza, three; and Alex, one – were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jessie Lopez said Joseph was driving the van when its front tire exploded, causing him to lose control of the wheel.

Reports said the family was on their way home from Baguio City when the incident happened in Sitio Mogaw, Alab Proper, at past noon.

Meanwhile, 18 persons were injured when a passenger van was hit by another vehicle in Lucena City, Quezon province Sunday.

Reports said the passengers of the Mitsubishi L300 van were rushed to the Quezon Medical Center for treatment.

They were identified as Rossana Danez, 46; Susan Acurin, 35; Janeth Durante, 32; Jocelyn Bacsa, 37; Irene Dominguez, 24; Rowena Bacsa, 24; Melvin Merene, 23; Davin Aquino, 19; Zyra dela Cruz, 17; Ryan Garcia, 17; Geram Fontanilla, 16; Irene John Lester Aquino, 15; Alberto Bacsa, 15; Bayziel Bragada, 15; Marivic Bacsa, 13; John Christian San Buenaventura, 13; Jalyn Durante, 15, and John Loyd Gonzales, 14.

Superintendent Allen Rae Co, city police chief, said the passenger van driven by Joel Babiera, 33, was about to turn left along the diversion road in Barangay Kanlurang Mayao when it was hit by a Mitsubishi Delica van, driven by Alexander Latuna, 39, at about 1 a.m. – Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, Michelle Zoleta,