“It Was Supposed to Be Just Another Trip”: 12 Dead, 28 Injured in SCTEX Crash Involving Solid North Bus — LTFRB to Grant P400K to Families of the Victims

TARLAC CITY — What started as a regular commute turned into tragedy for dozens of passengers and motorists when a Solid North bus collided with multiple vehicles along the Tarlac City Toll Plaza Exit on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) at around noon on Thursday, May 1.

Ten were lost. Twenty-eight others were injured. Many of them were just hours away from reuniting with loved ones or reaching their destinations before the fatal crash changed everything in a heartbeat.

Among the victims were families heading home for the long weekend, an elderly couple returning from a medical appointment, and a young woman on her way to a job interview.

According to Marvin Guiang, chief of the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the massive collision involved a Solid North bus, three SUVs, and a container truck. First responders described the scene as chaotic and heartbreaking, with mangled metal, shattered glass, and personal belongings scattered across the highway.

“It was the worst accident we’ve responded to this year,” Guiang said. “Some victims were trapped in the wreckage for hours.”

In the wake of the incident, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon wasted no time. He ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to issue an immediate preventive suspension against Solid North Bus, pending a full investigation.

“We cannot allow such tragedy to pass without accountability,” Dizon stated. “Lives were lost. The public deserves answers—and justice.”

The LTFRB will also conduct inspections of the bus company’s fleet, driver credentials, and maintenance records to determine whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

As grieving families begin the painful process of saying goodbye, many are calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations on public transportation and harsher penalties for companies that fail to protect passengers.

A single moment changed the course of many lives. For those left behind, answers—and responsibility—cannot come soon enough.