4 dead in Ilocos, Abra road mishaps

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Four people were killed in separate road accidents in Ilocos Sur and Abra on Tuesday.

Police have launched a manhunt for Leonardo Batoon, 33, who fled after the  jeepney he was driving rolled over in Barangay Bila-bila, Sallapadan town, killing Casey Sawadan, 32.

The jeepney’s brake malfunctioned along a downhill curve, Sallapadan  police chief Senior Inspector Edgar Dangioan told The STAR.

Sawadan, who was on the rooftop, was thrown off and pinned by the vehicle.

Six of the 20 passengers were brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital.

In Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, Martin Pol, a German, and Rowena Pena died when the van they were riding rammed the arch marking the boundary of Sta. Maria and Narvacan towns.

Pena’s husband and driver of the van, Nemeline, and another passenger, Jaypee Tiongco, were injured.

In Sta. Lucia town, Elpidio Tugade Jr. died when his motorcycle hit a passenger bus along the national highway in Barangay Burgos.

The bus driver, Rodolfo Umutoy, a resident of Paoay, Ilocos Sur, surrendered.