Maintenance meds ng SCTEX bus driver, maaaring naging sanhi umano ng pagkaantok

- LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz said the driver was under maintenance medic@tion for hypertension, which may have caused drowsiness leading to the fatal accident

- The bus driver confessed to dozing off during the trip, which resulted in the tragic Solid North crash along SCTEX that killed at least 10 people

- Dr. Kevin Cortes pointed out that sleepiness from hypertension medic@tion is rare and emphasized that other conditions like uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes could also be factors

- Atty. Alex Versoza, legal counsel for Solid North, stated that the driver had not taken his maintenance medic@tion on the day of the incident

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has raised concerns over possible negligence in the recent Solid North bus crash along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), where at least 10 people died and dozens were injured., ABS-CBN reported.

On Wednesday, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz revealed that the driver was under maintenance medic@tion for hypertension, which may have contributed to the incident.

"Ang effect of this medicine is it will dilute the blood and eventually aantukin ka, based on these findings obviously inantok ang driver," Guadiz said, pointing to sleepiness as a possible side effect.

The driver admitted to falling asleep while driving, a lapse that led to the deadly crash. Guadiz added that the bus company's awareness of its employees’ health is crucial.

"Dapat malaman ng management, kung 'di nila alam, dapat nalaman nila 'yan, that's the health of the driver," he emphasized.

However, medical experts suggest other factors may have contributed. Dr. Kevin Cortes, a general practitioner, noted that the "side effect of sleepiness has been noted but it's not that common" with hypertension medicine.

He explained that uncontrolled hypertension could also cause symptoms such as "headache, chest pain, and blurred vision."

He emphasized the need for further medical evaluation and cited that "undiagnosed or uncontrolled blood sugar due to diabetes could have symptoms of sleepiness... Multifactorial problem 'yung issue."

Solid North’s legal counsel, Atty. Alex Versoza, clarified that the driver had not taken his medic@tion on the day of the crash. "Alas-9 ng umaga siya umalis sa Cubao dispatch, 1.5 hours nasa Dau na. Around 30 mins stopover, byahe na siya ulit," Versoza said.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In a previous report by KAMI, the Land Transportation Office has already taken action on the driver of the SUV that rammed people in NAIA Terminal 1. On their Facebook page, the agency said they put the driver's license on preventive suspension for 90 days while investigations are still ongoing. It can be recalled that the SUV suddenly accelerated, resulting in 2 casualties and a couple of people injured. An SCO has already been issued against the registered owner of the SUV and the driver involved in the tragic incident.

Additionally, the Overseas Filipino Worker, father of the 5-year-old girl victim in the NAIA Terminal 1 incident yesterday, has no longer proceeded to leave the country. In a report by GMA 7's 'Unang Balita,' he and other family members went to a Pasay funeral facility where the initial processing of the deceased victims was made. The OFW father of the girl victim personally took his daughter's remains and will be bringing them to Lipa City, Batangas.

Source: KAMI.com.gh