A 67-year-old woman died in a car accident late Wednesday night (November20), just an hour after arriving at Laguindingan Airport from the United States for a vacation.
The incident occurred at Diversion Road in Barangay Barra, Opol, at 11:58 pm, according to police reports.
The victim, Emilyn Pagaling, a former agricultural engineer from Malaybalay City, was traveling in a black Ford Expedition driven by Carlo Emil Bongcayao.
The vehicle carried five passengers, including Pagaling’s husband, Judito, 70, their daughter, Kathleen Cecille, 36, and three minors. All passengers sustained injuries, and Pagaling succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The collision involved a Ford Everest driven by a 17-year-old minor holding a non-professional driver’s license. Initial investigations revealed the Everest, traveling at high speed, entered the diversion road without caution, hitting the Expedition, which was en route from Laguindingan Airport to Cagayan de Oro City.
The victim’s son, Dr. Rey Jude Pagaling, took to social media to express his grief and frustration over the loss of his mother, who he described as his confidant throughout his journey to becoming a doctor.
“I worked hard to become a doctor, but I couldn’t save my mother. Didto ragyud kutob akong mama. Wala siya namatay sa diabetes ug high blood. Gipatay siya sa wala’y ayo na driver,” posted Dr. Pagaling.
Emilyn Pagaling, a mother of seven, had returned from the United States to spend time with her family. Her untimely death has sparked outrage over road safety and the dangers of underage, reckless driving.
Authorities have yet to announce charges against the minor driver as investigations continue.
