A 90-day preventive suspension of the driver’s license of a truck driver involved in a fatal road accident in Pampanga that left four children dead was ordered by Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II.

Mendoza said in a statement that the order will be effective until such time that the investigation of the LTO-Central Luzon headed by Regional Director Ronnie Montejo is done.

As this developed, Montejo said that a Show Cause Order was already issued against the driver of the Isuzu Forward truck who is a resident of Himalayan City in Negros Occidental.

Report provided by the local police to the LTO-Central Luzon said all the four children who were all siblings and aged two to 10 were on board a kolong-kolong tricycle driven by their father, Edmond Canlapan, when the incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on November 22 in Porac-Angeles Road Brgy. Manibaug Pasig, Porac, Pampanga.

The kolong-kolong was in the middle of the road and waiting for its chance to turn left on its way home when it was bumped by the Isuzu Forward truck from behind.

As a result, the kolong-kolong occupied the opposite side of the road, leading to the tricycle being hit by a dump truck.

Two of the children died on the spot while the two others succumbed to serious injuries in a hospital.

“Lagi po tayong nagpapaalala sa ating mga motorista, lalo na ang mga driver ng mga malalaking sasakyan, na lubos na mag-ingat dahil may mga buhay na nakataya sa kalsada,” said Mendoza.

“Ang buong LTO family ay nakikiramay sa pamilya ng mga nasawing bata at makakaasa po sila na tututukan natin ang imbestigasyon na ito in the interest of justice. Wala pong may gusto ng pangyayaring ito subalit kailangang may managot dahil buhay ng apat na menor de edad ang biglang naglaho sa pangyayaring ito,” he added.

Mendoza said an initial report and action of the LTO was already forwarded to the office of Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

Photo: Jhade Escoto Rafael