3 injured as boulder falls on vehicle along Kennon Road

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A boulder fell on a vehicle along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Sunday morning, June 17, leaving 3 people injured.

The boulder crushed part of the vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, at around 11:10 am on Sunday.

Police Chief Inspector James Acod, chief of the Tuba Municipal Police Station, told Rappler in a phone interview that 4 people were on board the vehicle.

The driver was identified as Police Officer 2 (PO2) Jefferson Cadap, 28, a member of the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station in Benguet.

Cadap was with his wife Ginalyn, 27, as well as their children Xiehl, 4, and Zech Rhexelle, 2.

Ginalyn and the two children sustained minor injuries, according to Acod.

“[Ang injured ‘yung] misis na nakaupo sa harapan, hinahawakan po ‘yung isang anak, at saka ‘yung anak na nakaupo sa likod,” Acod said.

(The injured were the wife seated in front, holding one of their kids on her lap, and the child seated in the back.)

The entire family was brought to the Pines City Doctors’ Hospital.

“So far, safe naman sila. Galing ‘yung investigator do’n. Bale ‘yung injury nila parang minor lang, gasgas lang sa ulo, bale sa temple,” Acod said.

(So far, they’re safe. The investigator came to check on them. They only sustained minor injuries, like abrasions on the temple.)

Kennon Road was closed due to the incident noontime on Sunday, prompting this advisory from Acod: “Sa mga motorists, better na dumaan sa may Marcos Highway at saka Naguilian Road going northbound [to] Baguio City at saka going southbound to La Union… para sa public safety.”

(For motorists, better to pass through Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road going northbound to Baguio City and going southbound to La Union… for public safety.)

The road was later reopened at around 3:40 pm on Sunday, after clearing operations were completed, said Acod.

Last Friday, June 15, Kennon Road had also been closed due to landslides triggered by heavy rain from the southwest monsoon. It was then reopened on Saturday, June 16. – Rappler.com