Brake failure tragedy in Lubuagan: 65-year-old dies after passenger jeep fell in 30-meter-deep ravine

Lubuagan, Kalinga – A 65-year-old man died after a public utility vehicle (PUV) lost its brakes and fell into a 30-meter-deep ravine on Tuesday afternoon, March 31, in Dangoy, Lubuagan.

The Lubuagan Information Office reported that the accident happened around 4:00 p.m. along the Poway-Ag-agama Upper Uma Access Road in Dangoy, where the driver lost control of the passenger jeep after its brakes failed while traversing a steep portion of the road. The vehicle reportedly rolled backward before plunging into the ravine at the side of the road.

The accident resulted in injuries to 17 passengers and the driver. Among the victims was a 65-year-old man who sustained severe injuries and was referred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center for further medical treatment.

Unfortunately, the 65-year-old man identified as Julio Agaton, who suffered a head fracture and other injuries, did not survive and was declared dead on April 1, according to Lubuagan Administrator Atty. James Tagaotao who expressed his condolences to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, of the 16 other injured individuals, including an 85-year-old man, two were cleared to go home, five were admitted to the Kalinga District Hospital, one was referred to a hospital in Apayao, while the rest were brought to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital.

Mayor Joel Tagaotao earlier expressed gratitude to the rescue teams and civilian volunteers for their swift response to the incident.