What was supposed to be a fun adventure with the Whalesharks turned tragic when the van they were riding went out of control, hit a tree and fell in on its side, Tuesday afternoon.
All of the passengers were Japanese nationals who were on its way to barangay Tan-awan, Oslob town to see the Whalesharks.
One of the passengers, 59-year old Hiromi Ichimura died at the hospital while the tour guide Ryousuke Toi, and tourists Keiko Sonobe, Hiroshi Sato, Keotsu Hayasaka, Akira Itoh, Syouta Suge, Takao Sonobe, and a certain Kazuyuki were injured. The injured are now confined at the Cebu Doctors Hospitals in Cebu City.
The Filipino driver Guillermo Hella, 57 years old of Lutopan, Toledo City is currently detained at the Oslob police station.
Hella said the steering wheel malfunctioned while they were maneuvering a downhill curve in barangay Gawi, Oslob town in Cebu around 3 p.m. last Tuesday. The van bearing the plate number NCI 206 first hit the road culvert and then hit a Mahogany tree before it fell on its side.
The victims were first brought to Oslob District Hospital then transferred to South General Hospital in Minglanilla town before they were referred to Cebu Doctors Hospital./ by DM Lorena Narciso, Silliman University Intern
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