SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela—The town mayor of coastal Palanan town died while three others were wounded when their car crashed into an unfinished road project in this city at about 11 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 15).

Palanan Mayor Rodolfo Bernardo Jr., 57, died from internal hemorrhage due to multiple head injuries while he was being brought to the hospital.

Divilacan Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Emerson Velarde, 46, Palanan Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Melito Casasola Jr, 39, and driver Rommel Donato Alvarez, 24, were brought to a private hospital for treatment.

Mayor Bernardo and the officials were riding on board a sports utility vehicle (bearing plate number ZTY 898) which slammed into the road construction as it overtook another vehicle on the road.

The mayor and the two planning coordinators were driving back from Metro Manila where they attended a government seminar. They were on their way to Cauayan City to take a plane back to their respective towns.

Mayor Bernardo Jr. ran as vice mayor in the May 2016 elections but was sworn in as mayor when elected Mayor Angelito Bernardo died on the eve of the elections.

READ: Newly elected Isabela town mayor dies

The mayor’s cousin, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bernardo-Ochoa, will succeed him./rga

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