Raps vs van driver readied
CEBU CITY (Updated 12:57 p.m.) -- Authorities are now ready to file charges against the driver and owner of the van that fell into a ravine in Barangay Babag II.
A radio report said the Cebu City Traffic Division will file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple injuries against Rustom Tundag, 35, of Talamban town, and the driver and owner of the van.
Fourteen passengers were injured when the van they were riding, driven by Tundag, nose-dived in a ravine in Sitio Tugop, Barangay Babag II past 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The report said the passengers have not yet gone to the traffic division for their affidavit, as of this posting.
Authorities are still waiting for the passengers' affidavit before formally filing the charges against Tundag.
Tundag is now at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) after sustaining injuries due to the accident. The doctors recommended for him to be confined in the CCMC.
The van came from the southern town of Balamban, filled mostly with students, and was going downhill at high speed when it went to the other side of the Transcentral Highway and fell at least 15 meters down.
The Hyundai Vista van (GWH 294) flipped over as it hit the bottom of the ravine and large portions were squashed.
Relatives of the victims said some of the victims recalled the driver seemed sleepy during the ride.
Some relatives of the victim told Sun.Star Cebu that a woman who was beside the driver hit him to wake him up before they fell.
The woman, who is still to be identified, tried to control the steering wheel but was too late.
No one was seriously injured, said Senior Police Officer 3 Nelson Jayme of the Traffic Management Office who supervised the rescue operation.
The 14 injured passengers were Eldebrando Pandayogdog, 17; Johnrey Alpas, 16; Franklin Badili, 23; Claerol Ehalaga, 17; Robelyn Enot, 16; Higinita Bitoon, 42; Danilo Anggo, 50; Almark Alasco, 17; Lynmae Bendebel, 18; Anna Lea Manloloyo, 40; Charito Glodove, 36; Melvin Anggo, 50; Mustapha Umpar, 30; and Judymae Rosales, 25.
Most of the passengers are residents of Balamban and Asturias, southern towns in Cebu.
Source:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph