INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation (LTO) on Wednesday summoned the driver and the passenger of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that figured in a multiple-vehicle crash in Mandaluyong City as part of its ongoing probe.
According to a police report, a Toyota Land Cruiser triggered the multiple crashes along Shaw Boulevard corner San Miguel Avenue in Barangay Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City.
READ: 10 injured on San Miguel Ave.-Shaw Blvd. multiple vehicle crash
In a statement, the LTO said its Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) issued the show cause order on the driver and the passenger of the SUV. The two were ordered to appear before the LTO’s division office on Jan. 16.
The LTO also ordered that both explain why they should not be charged with Reckless Driving and why their driver’s licenses should not be revoked for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle.
When asked why both the driver and the passenger of the SUV were summoned instead of just the driver, the LTO explained that it was because both the driver and the passenger of the SUV had their respective driver’s licenses at the time of the incident.
“Dahil hindi po nakikita kung sino ang nagdrive, hindi agad nag-assume ang IID kung sino sa kanila ang totoong driver na nakaaksidente. Kaya po sila pinapatawag para malaman ang nangyari,” the LTO told Inquirer.net
(Since it was not clear who was driving, the IID did not immediately assume which of them was the real driver during the accident. That’s why they were summoned to find out what happened.)
The LTO IID also ordered that the driver’s licenses of the SUV’s driver and passenger be suspended for 90 days as part of its probe.
“Failure to surrender their driver’s licenses as required, any motor vehicle driven by them shall cause its impounding thereof,” the Order signed by IID Officer-in-Charge Renante Melitante read.
The multiple crashes left 13 motorists, and passengers hurt, and a total of 12 vehicles were damaged, the LTO said.
“Ang insidenteng ito sa Mandaluyong City ay patunay lang ng pangangailangan na natitiyak na hindi tayo dumaraan sa shortcut kapag kumukuha ng lisensya at kung nagpaparehistro ng sasakyan,” said LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “JayArt” Tugade.
(This incident in Mandaluyong City is just proof of the need to ensure that we do not take shortcuts when obtaining a license and registering a vehicle.)
“Importante na ang mga kuwalipikadong drayber lang ang mabibigyan ng lisensya at na-iinspeksyon ng mabuti ang sasakyan kung roadworthy o ligtas at pasado sa pamantanyan para ito makabiyahe,” he added.
(It is important that only qualified drivers are given a license and that the vehicle is carefully inspected to see if it is roadworthy or safe and passes the standard for travel.)
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