LTFRB suspends bus after EDSA busway barrier crash

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday suspended a bus that crashed into concrete and plastic barriers along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway in Quezon City.

In a statement, LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II said a show cause order (SCO) has been issued against the bus operator, Partas Transportation Co. Inc., after it figured in a road crash at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.

“In this case, we will be looking at either the employment of reckless drivers or the workload of the drivers. We want to know all the details, and this will come out during the course of the investigation,” Mendoza said.

Based on the initial investigation, the bus was travelling southbound along the EDSA Busway from the EDSA-Quezon Avenue Flyover towards Timog Avenue when the crash occurred.

According to investigators, the driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, resulting in the crash.

He said the incident is a violation of rules and regulations on safe public transportation and can be considered reckless driving.

In the SCO, the operator was informed of a 30-day suspension against the bus and was asked to explain why its franchise should not be cancelled or suspended over the incident.

The operator was also tasked to have the driver in the incident undergo a road safety seminar and drug test.

The bus operator will also be obliged to pay for the damaged barriers and is summoned to a hearing with the LTFRB on Aug. 6.

-Raymond Carl Dela Cruz/Philippine News Agency