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Christine Boton - The Philippine Star
May 4, 2025 | 12:00am
A speeding Solid North bus crashed into several vehicles at an SCTEX toll plaza in Tarlac City.
Philippine Red Cross via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — In the twisted wreck of metal and broken glass at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza on Labor Day, a quiet miracle was found: a two-year-old boy, strapped to his car seat, alive.
The crash, which occurred around noon, involved a speeding bus operated by Solid North Transit traveling from Cubao to Lingayen, Pangasinan. The bus collided with multiple vehicles, including a Nissan Urvan, a Kia Sonet and a Toyota Veloz.
The accident resulted in 10 fatalities and 37 injured and disrupted the travel plans of several groups and families.
Among the dead were Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Seawoman 1 Dain Janica Alinas, 32, and her husband, Jon-jon, 34.
The couple’s two-year-old son, who was secured in his car seat, survived.
According to the relatives of the victims, the family was en route to Baguio City for a short vacation when the incident occurred.
Following the crash, Alina’s colleagues and the entire PCG community expressed their profound grief over the tragedy. In honor of one of their own, they have pledged P250,000 in support for the surviving child and is considering posthumous recognition for Alinas, who had served with the agency for five years.
Tarlac authorities worked to retrieve the bodies from the mangled wreckage.
Marvin Guiang, head of the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, likened the scene to a “can of sardines,” as the two vehicles caught between the bus and an 18-wheeler truck were severely crushed. Extraction teams struggled to free the victims, revealing the severity of the carnage.
Most of the 37 injured passengers, primarily aboard the bus, sustained minor injuries, but three required hospitalization for serious head injuries. Among them was the bus driver, who allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, a lapse in judgment that led to the horrific pile-up.
Authorities have since taken the driver into custody, who now faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides, physical injuries and property damage.
Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon ordered a suspension of Solid North Transit’s operations for 30 days, ensuring that all affected vehicles undergo stringent safety checks.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also moved to expedite insurance claims for the victims, offering financial aid to the families of the deceased and the injured.
In an act of accountability, the LTFRB has instructed the bus company to undertake a series of corrective measures, including mandatory drug tests for all drivers, road safety seminars and vehicle inspections, to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.
In the wake of this tragedy, the call for improved bus safety regulations and better working conditions for drivers grows louder.
Former Bayan Muna representative Ferdinand Gaite has emphasized the need to address driver fatigue and overworking, which have long been issues contributing to fatal accidents.
