ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 10, 2014) – A van carrying mostly athletes fell in a cliff in the town of Buug in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay and killing its driver and injuring 14 passengers, police said Monday.
Police said the van was on its way to Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province to bring the athletes to the venue of the annual sports competition of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association.
The athletes were part of a delegation from Sulu province, police said, adding the driver Abdulajid Lukman, a resident of Zamboanga City, lost control of the wheel on a curve road near Bulaan village and fell into a cliff.
“Initial investigation revealed that the driver had lost his control of the vehicle on the curve road and rolled down the cliff. The driver was instantly killed and his passengers were also injured in the accident,” Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, told The Manila Times.
The wounded, including teachers and a school nurse, were rushed to hospital.
They were identified as Ayub Ramsani, Kuril Taludjud, Nurhaima Ramsani, Ramsani Mahmud – all teachers; and Andan Tammang, a sports assistant; school nurse Nur Aina Ramsani, and the student athletes Ferdiliza Ainul, Alhaina Banbon, Marhama Sarri, Ummal Nabri, Rasma Mahmud, Gerry Hamin, Arjaida Atiulla and Alhaina Bando.
The regional sports competition is a project of the Department of Education of the autonomous government which is participated by Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. (E. Dumabo)
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