Criminal raps filed vs. operator, driver in Florida bus crash

Criminal charges have been filed against G.V. Florida Transport and the driver of the passenger bus that plunged into a ravine in Mt. Province last Friday, killing comedian-activist Arvin “Tado” Jimenez  and 14 others, a television report said.

According to a report on GMA News, authorities have filed several counts of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries against the bus operator and the driver, Edgar Renon.

Earlier, G.V. Florida Inc.'s legal counsel, Atty. Alex Versoza, claimed thick fog and bad weather were among the reasons why their bus fell into a ravine in Bontoc town, the GMA News report said.

But a survivor belied the bus company's claims, saying the passengers noticed the bus was having engine problems.

"Okay lang naman ang weather, very sunny, hindi naman foggy. Wrong siya [si Versoza] kasi wala siya dun, hindi niya nakita. Hindi naman umulan. [Matindi ang sikat] ng araw," she said in the interview on the same report.

"Ang narinig ko lang, hindi gumagana yung preno, pero nag-slowdown siya [ang driver] pagdating namin sa [Barangay] Bayyo, sa view deck," the witness said.

In a report on Tuesday, Renon claimed he lost control of the vehicle becuase its brakes failed.

"[Huminto] po... tapos, biglang nag-abante, tapos 'yun na. Nagulat ako kasi na-lost control na ako roon e. [Tapos] sumabog 'yung gulong," Renon was quoted as saying in a GMA News report by Hadji Rieta.

Moments before the deadly plunge
 
The following is the timeline of events of the bus crash based on investigators' and witnesses' accounts, as pieced together by Hadji Rieta:
 

• Since the route was downhill, the bus driver hit the brakes but they failed.
• Three people flag down the bus but the driver failed to stop.
• The driver lost control over the vehicle while the bus continued to pick up speed as it moved downhill.
• The driver avoided the downhill road curve but the bus' front right tire hit a metal railing.
• The bus then plunged into the ravine.

Among the 15 passengers killed in the tragedy were Jimenez, musician David Sicam and visual artist Gerard Baja. Thirty-two people were injured in the accident.

A day after the crash, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on all the bus units of the GV Florida Transport's fleet. — Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News