MANILA - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday said it would suspend the bus firm whose unit was involved in a fatal crash along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) on Thursday.

Five people were killed while 49 others were hurt when a tour bus of Jumbo Transport Inc carrying government employees collided with a truck, the LTFRB said in a statement dated Jan. 31.

"The immediate action of LTFRB is to assist the victims of the tragic accident. LTFRB will also issue a preventive suspension order on the bus units under its franchise," the statement said.

Personnel from the LTFRB Region 3 found out that the firm has 10 units under a tourist bus franchise issued last July 5, 2016. Its franchise, which allows the firm to transport passengers from Las Piñas to anywhere in Luzon, will expire on Dec. 10, 2021, the agency said.

The northbound tourist bus was going fast when it crashed into a truck in Concepcion, Tarlac early Thursday, Robin Ignacio, traffic management and safety head of the adjoining North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), told radio DZMM.

Investigators are still looking into whether the bus driver fell asleep or miscalculated his speed before the accident, he said.