Deadly accident

Last Sunday, a deadly accident occurred on Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City. An old-style passenger jeepney crashed into the back of a modern passenger jeepney. The older jeepney overturned and hit a private vehicle. According to the latest report, two passengers died while 16 were injured. All were passengers of the old jeepney.

A CCTV camera captured the jeepney speeding when it crashed into the back of the modern jeepney, causing it to overturn. According to the driver of the crash, who is now in the custody of the authorities, he lost control of his vehicle. Of course, he blames the vehicle and not his driving. He did not mention the usual reasoning of the brakes failing.

The accident is under investigation. But I have not heard of an incident where an old passenger jeepney had a mind of its own and spontaneously accelerated, and the driver could no longer control it. None. A vehicle does not accelerate spontaneously. And since he made no claims of the brakes failing, he should have been able to slow it down and gain control. For the passenger jeepney to overturn, it was going too fast. The driver is now facing multiple charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides, multiple physical injuries, and property damage.

One of the deceased was graduating from high school and was on his way to take an entrance exam for college. He would have been 19 this April. How tragic and sad. His relatives are crying for justice. Someone should be held accountable. I agree. If it is proven that the passenger jeepney was going too fast, the driver is to blame. If, upon investigating, a defect is discovered in the vehicle, then the owner should be summoned. I don’t know why a passenger jeepney needs to go fast if, in a second, a passenger will ask to be let off, or someone will hail it to get on.

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that many public utility drivers, motorcyclists, along with private vehicle drivers, do not belong in the streets, they are those who do not have the right to drive any vehicle, especially public utility vehicles. They are inconsiderate of the lives that depend on their driving. Is it time for legislators to study the issue of public utility drivers having greater responsibility and accountability? Perhaps a requirement that their passengers are automatically insured for injury or even death once they board their vehicles?