5 dead, 9 injured after van fell into 50-meter cliff in Sadanga, Mt. Province

Sadanga, Mt. Province—A tragic vehicular accident in Sadanga, Mt. Province on Friday night claimed five lives and left nine others injured.

According to initial reports of police, a white Nissan van with plate number NDA 9883 fell off a 50-meter cliff along the road in Sitio Ampawilen, Barangay Poblacion, Sadanga, at around 10:30 p.m. on said day.

As a result of the accident, 5 out of the 14 occupants of the van died after sustaining severe injuries to various parts of their bodies.

The casualties were identified by the police as Vance Hernandez Jr., 45 (the driver); Gerardo Navarro, 36; Veronica Hipolito, 36; Jay Niño Belando; and one unidentified female.

The nine other passengers, meanwhile, sustained less-fatal injuries and are currently recuperating at the Bontoc General Hospital. They were identified as Mary Joy Reyes, 45; Archie Reyes, 25; Cherish Quimpan, 20; Manuel Lap, 26; Elvis Acupan, 25; Ham Sua, 23; Arlette Sarmiento, 23; Christine Cuidamat, 20; and Dan Dacoycoy, 24.

In his interview with the media, Police Master Sergeant Roger Fettar of Sadanga PNP said the victims were supposed to travel to Buscalan, Tinglayan, in Kalinga when the incident transpired.

As of this writing, the authorities are still investigating the circumstances behind the tragic accident.