PROBE SHOWS
Driver error caused fatal NLEX crash
By Tonette Orejas
Central Luzon Desk
First Posted 06:40:00 11/03/2008
Filed Under: Road Accidents
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The accident that killed at least five people and hurt more than 50 others on the North Luzon Expressway on All Saints’ Day was caused by driver error—and not the design of a portion of the NLEX— said its operator, Tollways Management Corp. (TMC).
On Sunday, Chief Insp. Jovencio Flores, police chief of Mabalacat, Pampanga, also corrected initial reports that said six people had died in the collision of a Fermina Express Bus and a Toyota Revo.
“Confirmed dead as of this message are five, not six as earlier reported. One of the victims [earlier reported to have died] was [taken] to St. Raphael Hospital and survived,” Flores said in a report.
He identified the survivor as Lolita Requintel-Toralba, 46, of Malasiqui, Pangasinan.
Betty Jose, TMC spokesperson, said the accident was caused by the “unsafe overtaking [of the bus driver].”
Marlene Ochoa, vice president for corporate communications of Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), builder and concessionaire of the 80-km NLEX, said the investigation by the police and the TMC concluded that the accident was due to driver error.
Flores said the Pangasinan-bound bus had gotten in the Revo’s path, causing the collision at Km 80 in Barangay Mabiga, Mabalacat.
Unlike other sections of the NLEX which have several lanes, Km 80 has only one lane each way.
Ochoa said the NLEX passed two safety audits by Mott Connel, a Hong Kong-based transport consultant. The MNTC, on the other hand, followed the safety enhancement measures suggested by the firm.
“It did not recommend the expansion of the road there,” Ochoa said.
Flores said the police had identified only three of the five fatalities. They were Ruth Diane Ferrer, 22, driver of the Revo; her passenger, Claretian priest Domingo Moraleda, 66; and bus passenger Aurelia Orio Montera, 56.
The Claretian congregation on Sunday claimed the bodies of Ferrer and Moraleda.
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