THE operator of the bus that was involved in a road crash in Carmen town, northern Cebu blamed bad roads and the weather for the accident last June.
Representatives of Vallacar Transit Inc. which owns the Ceres bus that was involved in the June 22 accident in Carmen yesterday appeared before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regional office to answer charges that they were at fault in the accident.
The bus company’s administration manager Renan Villahermosa and counsel Vicente Jose Arnado said the driver Ronald Lato, 37, admitted that he drove into the opposite lane to overtake a tricycle.
Ceres bus (679 CCE) was on its way to Daanbantayan from Mandaue City’s North Bus Terminal when the accident happened.
Edwin Antepuesto, hearing officer of the LTFRB-7, suspected that the driver lost control of the bus when he maneuvered to overtake another vehicle.
As stated in the police report which the LTFRB-7 referred to during the hearing, the bus’ tire exploded.
Villahermosa said the bus firm’s mechanics changed the tires four days before the accident. Antepuesto replied that the company needs to substantiate this claim with proof.
Antepuesto said there was no overloading as there were 38 passengers, the allowed number.
Authorities, however, have yet to verify if the driver was over speeding.