LTFRB grounds 16 Victory Liner buses for NLEx accident

Another bus firm has had part of its fleet grounded for causing a deadly accident. Sixteen Victory Liner buses plying the Sta. Cruz, Zambales to Pasay City route have been grounded by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after one of the buses collided with a 14-wheel truck, leaving the conductor dead and 22 other people hurt, including the driver.

The preventive suspension order was issued and signed on Thursday by LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez and board members Ariel Inton and Ronaldo Corpus. It will take effect immediately for not more than 30 days while the transport board conducts an investigation into the Sept. 21 accident.

At the same time, the bus management was directed to explain why their franchise should not be revoked within 72 hours of receipt of the suspension order. The LTFRB has set a hearing on Oct. 1.

For the duration of the suspension, the Land Transportation Office will determine the road worthiness of the 16 buses while their drivers will undergo a road safety seminar and drug test.

A Victory Liner bus (CXL 581) was bound for Pasay City when it collided with a 14-wheeler on the North Luzon Expressway in Mexico, Pampanga. The accident killed the conductor, Benedict Dipan, and injured the driver and 21 passengers.

In April, 42 Victory Liner buses plying the Zambales to Manila route were also grounded after a bus fell into a shallow ravine in Olongapo City when it tried to avoid a woman on the road. A total of 38 passengers were taken to the hospital for observation. With report by Erika Sauler