Driver in Naga accident not allowed to drive trailer

CEBU, Philippines -  The driver of the trailer truck involved in an accident that killed 10 and injured 53 people in Naga City last Wednesday did not possess the needed skills to handle such a vehicle.

This was the initial findings of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)- 7 and the Land Transportation Office (LTO)- 7 in their joint inspection yesterday at the incident site.

LTO-7 Director Raul Aguilos said they found that the trailer truck driver, Antonieco Omagay, Jr. of Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, was not allowed to drive the kind of vehicle that he was driving.

Omagay was one of the ten casualties.

Aguilos said Omagay was only allowed to drive a vehicle up to 4,500 kilograms based on the restriction code 2 and 3 of his driver’s license. The vehicle he was driving at the time of the accident was 4,501 kgs and above, which is equivalent to restriction code 8.

“Meaning wala siyay skill nga mo-drive og articulated vehicle like prime move trailer. Lack of skill to drive an articulated vehicle was a probable cause of accident,” Aguilos explained.

It was also found that his license was issued only in 2011, meaning Omagay has less than two years of experience to drive an “articulated motor vehicle” such as the trailer.

Because of the incident, LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon ordered the management of the bus company to make all their drivers undergo safety seminar and drug testing.

Cuizon said that the said bus company has 16 other buses plying southern Cebu. Cuizon also learned from witnesses that the helpers of the truck jumped out as their vehicle was going downhill.

The EVP Insurance Agency which handles the insurance of the WT Construction, owner of the truck, deposited P100,000 at the South General Hospital.

Boy Padilla, who processed the insurance, told The FREEMAN that they had a problem on giving assistance for those who were confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and in paying the funeral homes because the insurance coverage was only P100,000.

Padilla said that there are certain provisions stipulated in the insurance which they have yet to discuss with the JS Calvo Bus Company and WT Construction.

But gubernatorial candidate, third district Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, assured to help the victims, who are mostly his constituents.

Garcia yesterday visited the victims at the VSMMC. Immediately after Wednesday afternoon’s accident, he asked his staff to assist the victims with their medical needs and the meals for the families attending to them 24 hours.

He also instructed his staff to take care of all expenses not covered by those providing aid, including the funeral bills of the fatalities.

Garcia said that his visit yesterday was to check if the needs of the victims are being addressed by his staff.

Jing Firmeza, mother of one of the casualties, Lyle Firmeza, told The FREEMAN that her son was celebrating his 15th birthday the day he died at the accident.

Lyle was seated behind the bus driver while Jing was at the adjacent chair near the window. Jing narrated that she fell unconscious when the truck hit the bus.

“Bisan siyagit nga na-ngayo og tabang wala koy nadunggan pero nakamatngon ko pag-gipasakay ko nila sa ambulance,” she said. (I regained consciousness only when they lifted me on the ambulance.)

  While inside the ambulance, Jing already suspected that Lyle could be one of the casualties.

  Lyle and Jing were heading home to Barangay Don Andres Soriano (DAS), Toledo City from hearing mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City.

Marilou Carpentero, 44, also of DAS, suffered cuts in her forehead. She and her live-in partner, who suffered leg fracture, were confined at the VSMMC.

Carpentero is the mother of James Lee Carpentero, the last casualty identified by the police yesterday afternoon.Carpentero said they were heading home from a check-up at the VSMMC after James Lee was hit by an uprooted tree. She then did not have any whereabouts of her son right after the incident. They were seated at the back portion of the bus and last thing Carpentero saw was James Lee pinned by the metal bars inside the bus.

Of the ten casualties, five died on the spot while others were declared dead on arrival at the VSMMC.

The Province of Cebu will also extend aid. Evelyn Cenajon, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said they will give P5,000 to the families of the those who died, as well as sack of rice, canned goods and noodles.

She said that so far, the JS Calvo Bus Company informed them that they will be providing burial assistance. (FREEMAN)