1 killed, 3 hurt as van plunges into Negros ravine

At least one person was killed while three were injured after a van they were riding plunged into a 100-meter ravine in Negros Occidental province Thursday. News site Visayan Daily Star on Saturday cited belated police reports the incident occurred at Sitio Camandagan in Rizal village, San Carlos City. Traffic investigator PO3 Novem Lacson identified the victim as Ruel Navarro of Talisay City, who was declared dead on arrival at the San Carlos District Hospital. Navarro's colleagues Bernardo Romero, Jehru Advincula, and Eduardo Luwagi suffered relatively minor injuries. Investigation showed Navarro and his three companions were employees of a firm contracted by a telecommunications firm for its expansion in the area. They were delivering crude oil and other materials to San Carlos City when the accident took place, police said. Lacson said Romero lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a downslope area at the eco-tourism highway of Rizal village. When the van plunged into the deep ravine, Luwagi was thrown out of the vehicle.—JV, GMANews.TV