LRTA apologizes for LRT2 trains mishap, vows serious investigation

The Light Rail Transit Authority on Sunday apologized for the collision of LRT Line 2 trains on Saturday night and vowed to conduct a critical probe into the incident that hurt over 34 people.

“We apologize for this unfortunate incident and [the people could] rest assured that LRTA will seriously look into it,” LRTA Administrator Gen. Reynaldo Berroya said in a statement.

At least 30 passengers and four LRT2 personnel were hurt and rushed to various hospitals.

According to LRTA, most of those hurt suffered minor injuries and were immediately discharged; and five are being treated at the World Citi Medical Center and the Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

On Saturday around 9:15 a.m., a "dead train" that was being fixed moved on its own from the pocket track to the rail track going to Santolan Station until it hit an operating train on the eastbound lane between the Anonas and Araneta Center Cubao Station.

“We will immediately resume our operations once the clearing operations and safety check are completed at the revenue line,” LRTA's Berroya said.

After the incident, LRTA established a fact-finding committee to find out the cause of the incident and, also, to make recommendations to prevent the same incident in the future.

LRTA vowed to shoulder all the expenses of injured passengers and personnel, “We will provide all the necessary assistance,” Berroya added.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade,  Undersecretary for Railways Atty. Timothy John Batan, Berroya, and other LRTA officials visited the injured passengers and personnel in different hospitals.

“The collision incident ... is an isolated case and a first time for LRT2 since its operation in 2003,” the LRTA said in the statement. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News