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THE Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Office (LTO), has summoned the owners of vehicles involved in two recent and widely publicized road crashes in Quezon and Cavite.
The move, announced on Saturday, targets not only the drivers involved but also the registered vehicle owners, signaling the DOTr's stronger accountability campaign amid rising concerns over reckless driving.
Among those summoned is the owner of a truck that figured in a deadly multiple-vehicle collision in Atimonan, Quezon on May 16. According to investigators, the truck — which was en route to Bicol — lost control while negotiating a curve along the Maharlika Highway and collided with two other trucks heading toward Manila.
The driver of the out-of-control truck died at the scene. Five others were injured and brought to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities have not ruled out mechanical failure or fatigue as contributing factors, pending a full investigation.
In a separate incident, the LTO also summoned the owner and driver of a Toyota Vios captured in a viral video barreling through Noveleta, Cavite, and striking several pedestrians and vehicles.
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Based on initial reports, the sedan, driven by a woman who claimed to have lost consciousness, was headed for Cavite City when it suddenly accelerated, colliding with an oncoming vehicle. After the initial impact, the car reportedly reversed, then surged forward again, hitting a group of pedestrians and a light post. The chaos ended when the vehicle struck a parked tricycle in the town proper.
The LTO has since suspended the female driver's license for 90 days as part of standard precautionary measures while an administrative hearing is underway.
In a statement, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon emphasized that the government will no longer tolerate dangerous driving behavior, especially those that endanger the lives of other road users.
"We will not hesitate to suspend or revoke licenses of drivers and operators who blatantly disregard road safety," Dizon said. "The days of reckless impunity are over."
