LTO orders bus driver, operator to explain

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued show-cause orders against the driver and operator of a passenger bus involved in the death of a pedestrian in Atimonan, Quezon.

Police reports said that at around 5 a.m. on 5 November, the passenger bus was traveling along the northbound lane of Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tagbakin when its engine cover detached while the vehicle was in motion and struck a pedestrian standing by the roadside while waiting for a ride to Manila.

The victim sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Doña Marta Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Following the incident, the LTO identified the bus' designated driver and operator and formally issued show-cause orders requiring them to explain their respective roles in the incident.

Under the orders, the driver and operator are scheduled to appear before the LTO Central Office's Intelligence and Investigation Division on 13 November to submit their sworn statements and explanations, along with supporting documents, regarding the alleged violations involving reckless driving.

Meanwhile, the bus operator is also facing charges of employing a reckless driver and breaching franchise conditions.

The LTO said the driver's license could be suspended or revoked if the agency's final decision finds him to be an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The agency also ordered the driver to surrender his license to the Intelligence and Investigation Division for a 90-day suspension. The bus involved in the incident was likewise placed under alarm.