A minimum of 12 individuals were confirmed dead while dozens were injured following a disastrous multi-vehicle collision at the SCTEX toll booth in the Philippines on Labour Day. The fatal accident involved a Solid North bus and various private vehicles, which caused havoc during the holiday travel rush season.
The authorities indicate that the Solid North bus’s brakes failed and crashed into parked cars at the toll station, triggering a catastrophic series of collisions. Rescue teams arrived quickly and took the injured to nearby hospitals, while traffic along the main expressway ground to a halt for several hours.
As a reaction to the incident, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to impose a preventive suspension on Solid North Bus Company pending an extensive investigation. The fleet of the bus company will be suspended until compliance with safety standards is re-evaluated.
This accident has raised new indignation over the safety of public transport in the Philippines, with lawmakers and netizens demanding stricter implementation of vehicle checks and driver responsibility, particularly on long-distance trips during peak traffic holidays.
