A female Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel was among the 10 individuals who died in a multi-vehicle road crash at the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) in Tarlac City, a ranking official confirmed on Friday, May 2.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said that Seawoman 1 Dain Janica Alinas died along with her husband while their two-year-old boy who was wearing a car seat survived when a unit of Dagupan Bus Co. operated by Pangasinan Solid North Transit Inc. rammed four other vehicles at the SCTEX exit toll plaza on Thursday. 

The Alinas family was reportedly headed to Baguio City when the accident occurred.

“Ikinalulungkot po namin sa Philippine Coast Guard ang nangyari (The Philippine Coast Guard is saddened by the incident),” Gavan said.

The PCG would give financial support worth P250,000 to the kid survivor, who kept on asking for his mom and dad's whereabouts.

Gavan added that the PCG could also give recognition to Alinas for her five-year service to the agency.

Indemnity

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to immediately process and release insurance claims for the victims of the road crash.

“I instructed PAMI to immediately address the needs of those who are involved in the road crash,” said LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III. “They should start identifying the dead bodies and indemnify the families—Php 400,000 for each deceased passenger.”

According to the LTFRB, the maximum insurance coverage is P400,000 for each bus passenger involved in an accident. 

For non-passengers, including pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles affected by the crash, the maximum indemnity is P200,000.

The LTFRB also issued a Preventive Suspension Order (PSO) on 15 public utility buses (PUBs) of the Solid North Transit for a period of 30 days. The suspension order was to take effect “immediately”.

The suspended PUBs have the route Lingayen, Pangasinan to Cubao, Quezon City via EDSA North Expressway with plate numbers UVK-971, UVK-951, UVK-961, UVK-941, UVM-941, UVM-364, UVM-324, UVT-530, UVT-569, UVT-540, AAI-1901, DXN-476, ABE-2905, ABE-2906, and LZYTBTD69D1068034.

According to the Tarlac Provincial Police Office, the crash was caused by a Dagupan Bus Co. bus which failed to stop at the second lane of SCTEX’s exit toll plaza and rammed into four other vehicles, causing a chain collision.

The driver, according to the police, allegedly fell asleep while driving the bus. The bus came from Cubao and was on its way to Pangasinan when the grim accident happened.

The Tarlac City Police Office has taken custody of the driver, whose identity was withheld. He may face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injury, and mutiple damage to property. He was also subjected to alcohol and drug tests.

Aside from the 10 fatalities, 37 others got injured, police said.

The LTFRB directed the bus operator to comply with the following within the 30-day suspension: 

1. Undergo a Road Safety Seminar for all drivers assigned to the affected units.

2. Conduct compulsory drug testing for all drivers and conductors of the suspended units.

3. Pass a roadworthiness inspection of all suspended buses, to be conducted by the LTO or authorized vehicle inspection centers.

4. Submit video documentation of the roadworthiness inspection, road safety seminar, and drug testing.

5. Provide proof of insurance payouts to ensure victims receive the mandated compensation.

The operator was also instructed to surrender all physical plates of the suspended units to the LTFRB Legal Division immediately. 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) were ordered to apprehend and impound any of the units if found operating.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB revealed that it would also issue a show cause order to Pangasinan Solid North Transit Inc. in connection with two separate complaints: one from a pet owner whose cat was allegedly mistreated during transit, and another from a parent whose child with a disability was allegedly mocked by a bus conductor.