KALIBO, Aklan – A senior citizen was killed and as many as six persons sustained injuries when the utility van they were traveling was overturned in Ibajay, Aklan, about 43 km west of the capital town.
The speeding van with 16 passengers was traversing a national highway in Sitio Talisay, Barangay Aquino at around 6 p.m. when it lost control and turned turtle.
The fatality identified as Imelda Lirazan, 63, was declared dead on arrival at Ibajay District Hospital.
A surveillance video captured the horrifying moment how a utility van overturned and came to a rest in a middle of a highway.
Emergency rescuers of Ibajay and Nabas of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Bureau of Fire Protection also responded to the highway vehicular incident.
Four passengers were transported to Aklan provincial hospital in Kalibo, while two others were rushed to Ibajay District Hospital for treatment of their sustained injuries.
Eight persons also survived the car crash. The driver identified as Feljun Galabasa, resident of Bayawan, Negros Oriental, fled the scene on foot, according to the police.
Ibajay police officer-in-charge Capt. Mark Darrell Villanueva said all passengers boarded the utility van in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro to Caticlan, Malay, Aklan. They were going to Negros via Dumangas port in Iloilo.
“Galing sila sa Maynila sakay ng isang SUV at itong van. Iniwan nila ang SUV sa Bulalacao at sumakay silang lahat sa van papuntang Caticlan. Pauwi silang lahat sa Negros,” he added./PN
