LTO issues SCO vs. truck owner, driver in deadly SLEX road crash

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against the owner and the driver of a truck involved in a deadly road crash on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

According to a statement on Thursday, the truck was behind a sedan in the same lane on Tuesday when the car slowed and seemingly suddenly diverted near the Skyway ramp.

"Batay sa paunang imbestigasyon ng mga rumespondeng SLEX Patrol, magkasunod umanong binabaybay ng isang Honda City sedan at ng trak ang Lane 4 ng SLEX nang mag-alangan umano ang drayber ng kotse kung magpapatuloy sa pagtahak sa SLEX o aakyat sa Skyway ramp. Bigla umanong lumihis ang kotse sa linya na naging sanhi ng pagbangga at pagkakaladkad ng trak sa kotse na naging sanhi ng kamatayan ng 3 biktima. 

(According to the preliminary investigation of the responding SLEX Patrol, the Honda City sedan and the truck were both in Lane 4 when the driver of the car seemed to hesitate whether to continue on SLEX or to go up the Skyway ramp. The car allegedly suddenly diverted, which led to the crash and the truck's dragging the car, which lead to the deaths of the three victims.)

“Nag-menor itong sedan at hindi na rin po nakapag-preno o nakapag-menor itong truck na ito,” PNP-HPG spokesperson Lieutenant Nadame Malang said in a State of the Nation report.

(The sedan slowed down, but the truck was unable to brake or slow down as well.) 

The truck's owner and its driver have been called to appear before the LTO on January 6 and explain why they should not face administrative cases for reckless driving and license suspension for improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The owner must also explain why he should not be charged with employing a reckless driver.

Meanwhile, the truck has been placed under ALARM status and the driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News

Barbara Marchadesch