At least 31 people were reported injured in a two-bus collision Monday night on the exclusive EDSA Carousel lane in Makati City.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday issued a preventive suspension against the operator of one of the buses that figured in the accident.
The mishap which occurred around 9 p.m. at the EDSA-Guadalupe stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Ave. (EDSA), involved a Earthstar Express passenger bus with license plates NDL 7366 and Admiral bus bearing license plates NDQ 2617.
The collision whipped up heavy traffic along the two northbound lanes of the historic highway.
Police and traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) responded to the accident.
At least four ambulances from the agency’s bases in Timog, Orense, Pasig, and Quezon Ave., brought the injured passengers to the hospital.
A rescue team from the Makati City government also came to assist the victims.
Initial reports indicated that one of the two buses lost its brakes, leading it to ram into the other bus.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the LTFRB also issued a show cause order against the Earthstar Express Inc. and ordered the company to explain why its franchise should not be revoked.
The smash-up left 23 passengers of Earthstar and eight commuters in the Admiral Transport bus injured.
The LTFRB also requested the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) which provides passenger personal accident insurance for public utility vehicles, to pay the wounded passengers’ hospitalization fees.
