Orland Park Nurse Among Seven Killed In Philippines Van Crash

ORLAND PARK, IL -- An Orland Park nurse and a Chicago doctor were among seven passengers killed this weekend in the Philippines, when their tour van crashed into a tree while on a medical mission trip to help people in remote areas of the country. Aurora M. Gagni, a nurse from Orland Park, and Nunilo Rubio Sr., a well-known endocrinologist from Chicago, died in the crash, according to local news reports. The 24-year-old driver of the bus reportedly told police that he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Leonor Tsai, a nurse, and her husband, Fred, also members of the medical team, survived but were seriously injured in the crash. Rubio’s wife, Elenita, who is an internist, is in critical condition in a local hospital with multiple fractures. The tour van crashed near the town of Alegria in the province of Cebu.

The party of ten were enjoying some vacation time before continuing their medical mission in Camiguin Island in northern Mindanao on Jan. 20. They were on their way to Kawasan Falls, when the tour van, a Toyota Grandia, crashed into a mahogany tree, the Cebu Daily News reported. Seven were killed in the crash. The survivors are recovering in local hospitals. The driver suffered cuts and bruises. He was questioned by local police and released.

Gagni worked as a recovery room nurse and had recently become a grandmother. Friends and fellow parishioners told the Chicago Tribune that she loved mission work. She also helped her husband, Tito, in his florist business. The couple decorated their parish church, St. Elizabeth Seton in Orland Hills, for eucharistic holidays and weddings. The Rev. William Corcoran, pastor of the parish, told the Tribune that Gagni had a “great creative eye.”

“Everybody knew her. She was a spitfire, lots of energy, ’’ Corcoran said. “She was very committed to the parish and very much a part of this community.’’

A friend told the Cebu Daily News that Rubio was a respected endocrinologist, specializing in the management of diabetes, thyroid and other endocrine diseases. Rubio was affiliated with Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, Presence Mercy Medical Center and Presence Resurrection Medical Center.

Dr. Elenita Rubio is a former clinical instructor at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and was an attending physician in the Metabolic Ward of Hines VA Hospital, both in Maywood. The couple’s son, Noel, who was not on the trip, is also a doctor. The Rubios have one grandchild.

Gagni and the Rubios desired to give back to their native Philippines that ministered to the health needs of their underserved fellow Filipinos through their medical missions.

Photo: Mangled tour van in which seven members of a medical missions trip were killed on Saturday | Alegria Police Station, Cebu PPO