Are they accidents, or accidents waiting to happen?

This seems to be the recurring theme of most of the fatal bus crashes in the country in the last 4 years.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would always find violations in these crashes.

Accidents of the same nature and similar violations, some on the same roads, would happen again.

Here are five fatal bus crashes in recent history:

'A bus full of dreamers'

In February 2014, a GV Florida bus traversing Bontoc, Mountain Province fell off a 500-meter deep ravine killing at least 14 passengers, including comedian Tado, whose real name is Arvin Jimenez.

The driver of the ill-fated bus was detained for reckless driving
following the accident but was soon released after he posted a P50,000 bail set by the Bontoc Municipal Trial Court.

The LTFRB suspended GV Florida after 28 of its buses failed its inspection. The suspension was lifted soon after the Court of Appeals backed GV Florida's petition.

A GV Florida bus figured in another accident just a month after.

Burnt rubber, screams, death

At least 14 students of BestLink College, who were on their way to a camping activity, were killed after a tourist bus slammed into a post along a highway in Tanay, Rizal on February 2017.

Survivors recalled smelling burnt rubber before the crash happened. A student said they called the attention of the driver but he did not respond. The driver, who died in the accident, said sorry before the bus crashed.

A probe by the LTFRB revealed that the Panda Coach bus was already 29 years old. LTFRB has a policy on the phaseout of public utility vehicles that are 15 years old and above.

Fatal Skyway fall

It was around 5:00 a.m., just a few days before Christmas in 2013, when a Pacita-bound Don Mariano Transit bus fell off the elevated part of Skyway in Parañaque City, killing at least 18 passengers instantly.

An LTFRB probe revealed that the bus driver broke the Skyway's speed limit. It also discovered that Don Mariano was operating without a labor compliance certificate. Drivers working for Don Mariano said they were working 19 hours a day.

The franchise of Don Mariano was revoked. But LTFRB feared that Don Mariano would just sell its units to its sister companies, which is allowed by law.

Atimonan pile-up

At least 20 people were killed when 3 buses (Isarog Line, Superlines, and BLTB), 3 closed vans and a 10-wheeler truck figured in a multiple-vehicle collision on a diversion road in Atimonan, Quezon in October 2013.

The collision, police said, occurred after the truck hit the back portion of the Superlines bus. Five other vehicles on the opposite lane were caught in the pile-up. Reports said bodies with detached limbs were scattered on the road after the accident.

The driver of the Superlines bus was arrested but the truck driver died on the spot. Authorities said engine problem may have caused the collision which sent the passenger bus and the truck careening on the rain-slick road.

30 dead in Nueva Ecija crash

Perhaps the deadliest bus crash in the last five years happened in Nueva Ecija this week when a bus fell off a 100-foot deep ravine in the town of Carranglan in Nueva Ecija, killing at least 30 passengers in the process.

The violations have been discovered so far by LTFRB are: overloading of passengers; no alternate driver for a 224-kilometer, 15-hour trip; and being out of route.

The crash site had already been considered an accident prone area but the road reportedly still lacked warning signs and concrete barriers.