Police and emergency rescuers check and treat passengers and driver of the Toyota Tamaraw FX, which fell of a 200-foot cliff at past 3 p.m. on October 13, in Ginatilan town in southwestern Cebu. | Contributed photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A family of six and two of their cousins were injured after the vehicle they were riding on fell into a 200-foot cliff in Ginatilan town in southwestern Cebu on the afternoon of October 13.
Police Captain Michael Calaurian, officer-in-charge of the Ginatilan Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview today, October 14, that the engine of the vehicle, a Toyota Tamaraw FX, conked out while they were negotiating a steep slope of a hill in Sitio Cambugolan, Barangay Poblacion, Ginatilan town.
This caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle as it went down the hill with the rear part of the vehicle first and ending up falling into the cliff.
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Vehicle used as a jeepney before
He said he believed this happened to the engine of the vehicle, because it was not able to carry the weight of 7 passengers and the driver while traversing a steep slope of a hill.
“Gigamit man god ni niya og jeep de pasaherohan ba. Di baya ni pwede isaka didto kay bukid,” Calaurian said about the vehicle the family was riding on.
(He used this vehicle before as a passenger jeepney [traversing the flat land in the city]. That vehicle was in no condition to climb the mountain.)
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This is the back of the Toyota Tamaraw FX which fell off a cliff in Ginatilan town in southern Cebu on Friday, October 13. Eight were injured in the accident. | Contributed photo via Paul Lauro
How far is Ginatilan from Mandaue City?
The family were from Barangay Looc, Mandaue City and were on their way to Ginatilan town in southwestern Cebu to attend the wake and burial of the driver’s father, which was to be held today, October 14.
According to Google maps, Ginatilan is 151 kilometers away south of Mandaue City and if is at least a four hour plus drive away from the city.
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Family injured, 2 cousins
Those injured were identified as the Teddy Bohol, 50, the driver; Genevie Bohol, 47, his wife; their children Jane Marie Bohol, 25; Donna Mae Bohol 21; and their two minor children, who are 3 and 9 years old.
Two of their cousins, who were with them, were also injured in the accident. They were identified as Jefre Dagandan, 42; and Gelerma Flores, 56.
They were brought to the MJ Cuenco Hospital in Malabuyoc town also in southern Cebu for treatment.
Police Captain Calaurian said that fortunately, the family and their cousins only suffered bruises in their heads and bodies.
Ginatilan is a fifth class municipality of Cebu Province, which is at least 141 km from Cebu City.
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