The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a 90-day preventive suspension on the driver’s license of a motorist whose sports utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into a bank in Quezon City on Dec. 28 and left at least one person dead and six others injured.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said the driver of the Toyota Fortuner, a resident of Baliuag, Bulacan, and the registered owner of the vehicle, were already issued with a Show Cause Order (SCO) to explain in writing all the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
“We in the LTO send our condolences to the family of a bank client who died as a result of this accident. We assure that we will look into this matter,” said Mendoza.
Based on the initial investigation, the driver put his car in reverse but it suddenly accelerated and hit a vehicle parked nearby before it crashed into a bank on Quirino Highway in Barangay Pasong Putik.
As a result, a female bank client died and six other people inside were hit and suffered injuries.
In the SCO issued by Hanzley H. Lim, officer-in-charge of the LTO-National Capital Region, the driver, a resident of Baliuag, Bulacan, was asked to explain through a notarized statement why he should not be held liable for violation of Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 in connection with reckless driving, and violation of Section 27-B of the Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
The maximum penalty for violation of Section 27-B of RA 4136, or Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, is cancellation of driver’s license.
The driver and the registered owner of the vehicle were asked to appear before the LTO-NCR Office on Jan. 10.
“Failure to appear and submit a notarized affidavit at the above-stated time, day, and place shall be construed as a waiver to be heard and controvert the allegations against you, leaving this Office to resolve the case administratively based on the available records,” the SCO stated.
Mendoza said the LTO’s action is independent from the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police.