Operation of transport firm's 8 buses suspended over fatal Isabela road crash
At A Glance
- The bus driver lost control of the vehicle while travelling along the national highway and as a result.
- The bus hit a female pedestrian in front of the Santiago City Medical Center and a pick-up travelling at the opposite side of the road.
photo: LTFRB
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended the operation of eight passenger buses following the fatal road crash in front of a hospital in Santiago City in Isabela on June 11.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II said the suspension was temporary and will be on a maximum of 30 days while the investigation into the incident that led to the death of a female pedestrian is ongoing.
Based on the police investigation, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle while travelling along the national highway and as a result, it hit a female pedestrian in front of the Santiago City Medical Center.
The bus also hit a pick-up vehicle travelling at the opposite side of the road.
Based on the latest report, the pedestrian died as a result of the injuries she suffered. Two bus passengers were also injured.
“We express our sincerest condolences to the family of the victim. We understand the pain for that loss, and we in the LTFRB would like to assure the family that we will exhaust all measures in the interest of justice and accountability,” Mendoza.
Mendoza said he also instructed the agency’s Region 1 officials to facilitate the payment of the insurance to the victims in coordination with the bus firm.
In the show cause order (SCO), the operator of the bus, the Pangasinan Five Star Bus, Inc. was asked to explain in writing why its Certificate of Public Convenience should not be suspended or revoked over the incident.
The LTFRB also asked the bus company to subject the bus driver to drug test and all the eight buses under suspension for road worthiness inspection.
The bus company was also asked to surrender the license plates of the suspended buses.
Mendoza said the investigation is intended to determine if road safety rules are being properly observed by the company, as he stressed the need for all PUV operators and drivers to strictly follow road safety rules and regulations.
The first hearing on the case is on July 7.