Driver of the fallen bus in Skyway fell asleep or was racing with another bus?

From journal.com.ph:

Published : Thursday, July 28, 2011 00:00

Written by : Joel dela Torre

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board suspended the franchise of Dimples Star Transport Corp. after one of its buses fell 40 feet from the Skyway in Parañaque City Tuesday, killing three persons and wounding seven others.

LTFRB chairman Nelson Laluces ordered the 30-day preventive suspension against the bus firm. Twenty other buses of Dimples Star will be covered by the suspension order.

The LTFRB ordered the suspension after an investigation showed that the Dimples Star bus that fell from the Skyway ramp was out of line.

Laluces added the bus units of Dimples Star plying the route of Muntinlupa to Quiapo were only allowed to use Sucat Road.

Authorities said the bus fell due to over-speeding and not because of heavy rains as claimed by conductor Jonathan Alebar.

Eduardo Nepomuceno, Skyway O&M Corporation’s special operations head, said their investigation showed that bus driver Joven Justol Pampilon was racing against another passenger bus prior to the accident.

He said it was also possible that the driver fell asleep as the bus was traversing Pier 6, Sucat going to Alabang.

The bus was cruising the Skyway amid heavy downpour when the driver lost control of the steering wheel and fell 40 feet from the Skyway ramp and landed on the service road.

“It could have been driver’s error,” Nepomuceno said.

Pampilon was killed along with his two passengers Anthony Abarra, 21, and Lorenzo Gabo, 27.

Alebar and passengers Rene Mendez, 34, Gerardo Frisco, 37, and Catherine Josol, 33 were taken to the South Super Highway Medical Center for treatment. All of them were declared out of danger.

The Skyway management is urging the bus company to compensate the victims.   
With Alvin Murcia