By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

SAN EMILIO, Ilocos Sur – Four persons were killed and 15 others injured when a passenger jeepney plunged into a deep ravine while negotiating a road in Barangay Tiagan, San Emilio, Ilocos Sur around 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Police said the victims were on their way home to Sta. Marcela, Apayao after they attended a family reunion in Quirino, Ilocos Sur when the jeepney’s mechanical brake malfunctioned.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and it careened downward from a steep hill before plunging down a ravine about 150 feet deep.

Police identified the four fatalities as Nestor Tungbaban, Lodivina, Angala, Valerian Bitibit and Mercedes Bitibit, all passengers and residents of Sta. Marcela, Apayao.

The injured were identified as Avelina Wakan, Virgie Wakan, Marina Tungbaban, Valerie Salvador Bitibit, Esperdion Bitibit, Eliseo Patil-ao, Cleffold Tommel Bitibit, Martin Goyasan, Jun Bitibit, Betty Geronilla, Freddie Geronilla, Jennifer Bitibit, May Flor Gamilde, a certain Navie, and King Martin, driver of the jeepney, all residents of Sta. Marcela Apayao.

Three of the jeepney passengers were unhurt but their names are still not available.

The jeepney was overloaded with 22 people when the accident happened.

Eight of the victims were confined at the Candon City Hospital, three at the San Martin de Pores Hospital, three at the Rasonable Clinic and one at the Ilocos Training and Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.

San Emilio town is located some 15 kilometers east of Candon City.