Bus firm faces suspension over teenager’s death

MANILA, Philippines–A bus company faces a 30-day suspension after one of its units ran over and killed a 14-year-old girl in Quezon City on Sunday.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that the preventive suspension would cover 15 Safeway buses plying the Baclaran-Fairview via Edsa route.

Abe Lopez, a resident of Barangay (village) Kamuning, was killed after a Safeway bus (TXP 815) driven by Lorie Gallarda, 45, struck her as she and her friend were crossing Edsa near the corner of East Avenue in Quezon City at 2:55 p.m. Sunday.

Gallarda, who was making a left turn from East Avenue toward the southbound lane of Edsa, said he did not see Lopez as she was crossing the busy thoroughfare.

The 14-year-old girl was on her way to the Quezon Memorial Circle for a school dance practice.

Lopez was struck by the left front portion of the bus and ended up under its left front tire, said Supt. Ely Pintang, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Traffic Enforcement Unit.

He added that the girl’s family and the bus company had reached an amicable settlement, leading to the dropping of the complaint against Gallarda.

LTFRB media liaison officer Mary Ann Salada said the affected buses would undergo inspection for road-worthiness while the bus drivers would be tested for drugs and attend a road safety seminar before the suspension could be lifted.–Jaymee T. Gamil