LTO orders probe on truck driver’s crushing to death of fellow driver
LAND Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II has ordered a thorough investigation into a viral video in Tondo, Manila that showed a trailer truck driver deliberately crushing the driver of a delivery van to death last October 12.
Mendoza said he already instructed LTO-National Capital Region Director Roque Verzosa III to issue a Show Cause Order (SCO) to the registered owner of the trailer truck and its driver identified as Marlon Valdez Ilas.
Mendoza’s order was based on a news report about the death of delivery van driver Benjamin Endrina Bagtas, who was crushed to death when he was pinned between his van and the trailer truck following what is perceived again as a road rage incident.
Based on the police report obtained by the LTO, both drivers were cutting each other’s path along the southbound lane of Mel Lopez Boulevard in Delpan, Tondo.
Bagtas then alighted from the vehicle but he was pinned against the van and the trailer truck when Ilas veered the truck towards his direction and continued, thus pinning the first to death.
The victim was declared dead in the hospital while the driver of the trailer truck is now under police custody and facing criminal charges.
“Lagi nating tatandaan na meron tayong pamilyang uuwian at maapektuhan kapag nagdulot na ng hindi maganda ang init ng ulo.
Maging responsible tayong driver kapag nasa daan dahil ito naman ang hinihingi ng pamahalaan sa atin nang tayo ay bigyan ng lisensya sa pagmamaneho,” he added.
