By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday issued a preventive suspension against modern public utility jeepney (PUJ) operator Carmexss TSC, after one of its modern jeepneys crashed into a tricycle, killing two people and injuring several others.
In a statement, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III said the preventive suspension was issued in conjunction with a probe by the LTFRB Region 3 (Central Luzon) into the incident.
“I gave them 15 days to submit the result of the investigation. We are issuing a preventive suspension so as not to preempt the ongoing investigation,” Guadiz said.
The involved PUJ operator will not be allowed to ply its route for 30 days pending the probe result.
Guadiz called on public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to monitor their drivers’ compliance with road safety standards to prevent similar incidents.
“Reckless driving and negligence not only endanger lives but also result in severe penalties, including preventive suspensions and possible revocation of franchises,” he said.
According to a police report, a Carmexss TSC modern jeep allegedly attempted to overtake along a bridge on MacArthur Highway in Calumpit, Bulacan but collided head-on with a tricycle carrying four people at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
The impact sent both vehicles off the bridge.
Killed in the incident were the tricycle driver and one passenger while the two other passengers of the tricycle and 18 passengers of the modern jeep were wounded.
Many of the passengers of the modern jeep were students from Bulacan State University. (PNA)