3 killed, 1 injured in Itogon, Benguet after pick-up plunged into 100-meter ravine

Itogon, Benguet - Three individuals in their 20s died while a minor suffered severe injuries after their pick-up truck fell into a 100-meter ravine in Itogon, Benguet in the early hours of Monday, January 20, 2025.

The Itogon PNP identified the casualties as the driver, Jefferson Amayag Oplas, 29; Rubelyn Agapinan, 27; and Charles Oplas, 21. The injured individual is Luisito David Bacoco, 14.

All said individuals were residents of Luneta, Antamok, Barangay Loacan, Itogon, Benguet.

According to the initial report from the Itogon Municipal Police Station, the victims were headed to Baguio City when they met the tragic event around 6:45 a.m. of said day.

While they were travelling the Baguio-Ucab road in Barangay Ucab, Itogon, their pickup truck, a Toyota Hilux Conquest,  crashed into a concrete barrier. The force of the impact resulted in the vehicle plunging into the ravine.

Notified of the incident, the authorities proceeded to the accident site to rescue the victims. There, they found Jefferson (the driver) already lifeless. The three passengers, meanwhile, sustained severe injuries but were still alive at that time. The rescue team rushed them immediately to a hospital nearby.

Unfortunately, two of them (Rubelyn and Charles) succumbed to their injuries while at the hospital. Fortunately, the youngest of them, Luisito, survived the incident and is now in a stable condition.

At present, follow-up investigations are underway to determine the cause of the tragic accident.