Agoo road crash prompts Poe to call for creation of safety board

Senator Grace Poe urged on Monday the need for a national safety board in the country following the tragic road  crash on Christmas Day in Agoo, La Union.

The senator reminded the public to take extra precautions while driving, especially during the holiday season, to avoid road accidents.

“Paalala ito sa ating mga kababayang nagbibiyahe ngayong Kapaskuhan na magsagawa ng ibayong pag-iingat sa pagmamaneho upang iwasan ang mga sakunang gaya nito,” Poe said in a statement.

“Kailangan natin ng isang National Transportation Safety Board na mag-iimbestiga at magbabantay sa mga sakunang pantransportasyon gaya nito upang maiwasan ang mga pagkakamali at pagkukulang na humahantong sa pagkawala ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public and mass information, added.

She further sought deeper investigation on the La Union road accident that killed 20 people and injured at least 25 others.

“Nananawagan tayo sa kinauukulan na magsagawa ng masusing imbestigasyon sa naganap na insidente. Habang isinasagawa ito, ibigay natin sa bawat biktima ang tulong na kinakailangan nila,” she said.

The lawmaker then extended her condolences to the families of the victims.

Around 3:30 a.m. of Christmas Day, a passenger jeepney collided with a bus that happened along the southbound lane of the Manila North Road in Barangay (village) San Jose Sur.

The jeepney was bound for Manaoag, Pangasinan to attend Mass as part of the victims’ celebration of Christmas Day when it overtook another vehicle and crashed into the Partas Bus on the opposite lane.