Probe underway into LRT2 trains collision; 34 hurt

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said it would launch an investigation into the collision of its trains on Saturday night that hurt dozens of passengers.

According to the report of Cecille Villarosa on Super Radyo DZBB, LRTA board secretary and spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said, "There will be a fact finding committee to determine bakit gumalaw yun dead train from the pocket track."

"We expect a report in two to three days," he added.

Cabrera: There will be a fact finding committee to determine bakit gumalaw yung dead train from the pocket track. We expect report in two to three days. @gmanews

— Cecille Villarosa (@CecilVillarosa) May 18, 2019

Cabrera: Target ng kanilang imbestigasyon ang dahilan ng pag-andar ng kinukumpuning tren kahit pa walang nag-ooperate at "all system off" ito.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 18, 2019

Cabrera said 34 passengers were hurt, but none were in critical condition.

Cabrera: 34 ang nasaktan at sugatan sa insidente pero wala namang nagtamo ng malalang pinsala.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 18, 2019

LRTA administrator Reynaldo Berroya said the agency will shoulder all expenses related to the medical treatment of the victims.

Berroya and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade went to the hospitals where the victims were brought to check on their condition.

Only five injured passengers remained at hospitals as of around 6 a.m. Sunday, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB by Isa Avendaño-Umali. One of the five passengers is at Quirino Memorial Medical Center while four are at World Citi Medical Center, both in Quezon City.

Cabrera said the operator of the train was also injured and had bruises and wounds. He is now in stable condition and in the custody of LRTA.

Cabrera: Nasaktan din ang operator ng train na nagtamo ng pasa, bukol, galos at sugat sa katawan. Nasa maayos na itong kalagayan at nasa kustodiya na ng LRTA.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 18, 2019

According to Umali's report on Super Radyo dzBB, Cabrera said the operator of the train had wounds on the face and his pants were all slashed or "gutay-gutay." The said operator jumped out of his train just before the collision.

A teller of the LRT2 was also among those injured.

Runaway train

The collision happened near the LRT2 Anonas Station in Quezon City.

Cabrera said a train broke down at 2 p.m. on Saturday in between Cubao and Anonas Stations. This train was placed on the emergency pocket track to be fixed.

CABRERA: Alas-2:00PM kahapon nang may masirang tren sa pagitan ng Cubao at Anonas Stn kaya inilagay ito sa emergency pocket track para kumpunihin. Bandang 9:15 ng kagabi nang gumalaw ang kinukumpuning tren na nasa pocket track at inokupa ang riles na papuntang Santolan Stn...

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 18, 2019

At 9:15 p.m., the train being fixed moved on its own from the pocket track to the rail track going to Santolan Station.

At this time, a train coming from the Cubao Station was on the same track. This train stopped when the runaway train was reported via radio.

However, the runaway train continued moving and bumped into the oncoming train, Cabrera said.

Cabrera: Nagkataon na may paparating na tren mula Cubao Stn., pero agad naman itong tumigil nang mairadyo na runaway train sa kanilang track (riles). Pero dahil hindi na napigilan ang tren at bumangga sa paparating na tren.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 18, 2019

Operations

LRT2 operations were suspended on Sunday morning due to clearing operations.

LRT-2 train operation is still suspended due to ongoing clearing operations as a result of the train incident last night.

— LRT2 (@OfficialLRTA) May 18, 2019

Anonas station, sarado pa rin dahil sa pansamantalang suspensyon ng operasyon ng LRT-2. pic.twitter.com/jbJQlsGMVi | via @Isa_Umali

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 18, 2019

According to Cabrera, some steel bars from the trains involved in the accident had to be cleared from the tracks.

Both trains have been pulled toward the depot as of Sunday morning.

Operations of the LRT2 returned to normal at 10:47 a.m. on Sunday after a safety clearance was issued, and clearing, mopping up operations, and safety checks were performed, according to Umali's report on Super Radyo dzBB.

Cabrera said only five trains will be deployed on Sunday, but the number may be increased on Monday.

UPDATE: Ayon kay @attycabs, limang tren ang idedeploy ngayong araw para serbisyuhan ang mga pasahero, pero bukas ay madadagdagan pa ang bilang. | via @Isa_Umali

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 19, 2019

The LRTA official also said the accident was an isolated one and the first time such a train accident happened.

He added that there is no reason for passengers to be fearful of their safety as the LRT2 is one of the modern railway systems in the country.

In fact, LRT2 trains are equipped to be driverless but LRTA has chosen to have operators on each train to assure passengers of their safety, Cabrera said. He added that in some countries, their trains are already driverless. —With Joviland Rita/LDF/KG, GMA News