LTFRB suspends Earthstar Express after bus crash injures 31

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued a preventive suspension against Earthstar Express Inc. after one of its buses collided with another along the EDSA Busway in Guadalupe late Monday night, injuring at least 31 passengers.

A show-cause order was also issued, requiring Earthstar to explain why its franchise should not be revoked.

Reports indicate that the Earthstar bus lost its brakes and crashed into a bus owned by Admiral Transport Inc., which was waiting to load passengers at the Guadalupe Station.

Eight passengers on the Admiral bus were injured, while 23 passengers on the Earthstar bus sustained injuries.

The LTFRB has requested the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to visit the hospitals treating the injured passengers and cover their hospitalization costs.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has also ordered the drivers of both buses to appear before its Intelligence and Investigation Division (LTO-IID) on Thursday to explain why they should not face charges for reckless driving and have their licenses revoked. Both drivers' licenses were preventively suspended for 90 days.

The two bus companies were also instructed to appear before the LTO-IID to explain why they should not face administrative charges for employing reckless drivers.