The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday ordered an investigation into a road crash in Luna, Isabela that left three people dead.

LTFRB Chairperson Vigor Mendoza II directed the probe following the incident along the Santiago–Cauayan National Road in Barangay Mambabangga, where a dump truck rammed into a passenger jeepney.

The agency said its Region 2 office immediately deployed personnel to conduct an investigation and secure a copy of the police report.

Based on initial findings, the LTFRB said the truck driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a collision with the jeepney traveling in the opposite direction. The impact caused the jeepney to overturn, eject some passengers, and detach its roof.

Mendoza said the LTFRB is ensuring that assistance, particularly insurance claims, is extended to the families of the fatalities as well as to those who were injured.

“On behalf of the men and women of the LTFRB, we extend our sincerest condolences to the family of the victims who lost their lives as a result of this unfortunate incident,” Mendoza said.

“We know that life cannot be replaced and no amount of assistance can take away the pain of losing a family member but all we can do right now is to ensure that the rights of the victims for insurance payment are protected and expedited,” he added.

LTFRB Region 2 Director Richard Dayag said the office is coordinating with the transport cooperative that owns and operates the jeepney, as well as with the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency Inc., to speed up the processing of insurance payments.

As part of standard procedure, the LTFRB also issued a show cause order against the jeepney operator to determine the roadworthiness of the vehicle involved.