By JEN BAYLON

A woman died while seven others were injured after a sports utility vehicle fell into a ravine at Barangay Pandanon in Negros Occidental’s Don Salvador Benedicto town on Saturday, March 29.

Municipal police chief, Major Ryan Villasario, said the fatality, a 58-year-old resident of Bago City, is yet to be identified.

She was declared dead on arrival due to severe head and body injuries.

Villasario said the victim was the last to be rescued after she was stuck inside the vehicle.

The passengers included four police officers from the Bacolod City Police Office: a 32-year-old police corporal from Bacolod’s Barangay Alijis, a 29-year-old police corporal from Victorias City, a patrolwoman; another police corporal, and a 24-year-old woman.

Two minors were also among the injured.

Rescue operations were swiftly conducted, with the injured rushed to the hospital.

Based on initial investigation, the vehicle, driven by a policewoman, was traveling from Bacolod to San Carlos City when it veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in Purok Tuburan, which is approximately 50 meters deep.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing./JB, WDJ