Philippines: Bus plunges off Metro Manila Skyway, 18 dead
A Don Mariano Transit bus plunged off the Metro Manila Skyway Monday morning, landing on a van below in Bicutan, Taguig City, killing, according to updated reports, a total of 18 people.
This is an update of a previous report that said 22 people were killed.
Some 16 people are reported injured.
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Metro Manila Skyway communications officer Ivy Vidal said that the wet roads may have “caused the bus to ram the Skyway railings and plunged into the road below.”
She noted that the Skyway facilities followed the international safety standards of the durability of its safety railings and can only be destroyed by a massive amount of force or impact.
The tragic accident has prompted the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to suspend the entire fleet of (78 buses) Don Mariano Bus Company for 30 days.
LTRFB chairman Winston Ginez said the suspension order is a standard operating procedure (SOP) each time a bus is involved in an accident so that investigators can check on the buses for roadworthiness, and the drivers for competency.
The LTFRB said Don Mariano Bus Company has been involved in other previous road accidents. In July this year, one of its units figured in a road collision along the flyover in Ortigas Avenue resulting in injuries to six passengers.
The Toll Regulatory Board is to review video footage of the Skyway accident and draw up measures to avoid a repeat of the bus fall from an elevated tollway.
