There were chaotic scenes at Malifa on Monday morning when a public transport bus with over 30 passengers flipped over and landed on its roof after the driver lost control when driving downhill from Papauta.

Most of the passengers on the Falealili bus were treated at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital for minor injuries and released on Monday, according to an article in yesterday’s edition of the Samoa Observer. Except for four who were in critical condition with one dying from his injuries on Monday night. 

Reading the testimonies of the injured and shaken passengers, in their interviews with this newspaper on Monday at Moto’otua, confirmed every public transport user’s worst fears about using the iconic Toyota public transport buses.

"From there the bus was picking up speed and the brakes weren't working," said Pacific Forum Line employee, Iosua Nouata. "We continued to accelerate down.

“And just before we got to the Malifa four corner, I believe the bus driver saw a lot of vehicles there and then decided to swirl to the side which led to it crashing into the other small car...no one died at the scene but we have others seriously injured.”

Mr. Nouata said the bus was supposed to make a stop going downhill but it didn't and continued to accelerate. He alleged the bus has had mechanical problems for the past five weeks with the driver allegedly using the hand brake to bring it to a stop.

The fact that this bus continued to operate that route for five weeks – without the authorities knowing about its mechanical problems and continually putting lives in danger every time it got on the road – is unthinkable. Obviously, someone at the responsible government agency dropped the ball on this one.

Yesterday the CEO of the Land Transport Authority, Galumalemana Titi Schwalger confirmed in response to questions from this newspaper that the bus in question had failed their inspection.

She also mentioned that the enforcement of traffic laws by vehicles including buses lies with the Police and not with the authority. 

“The enforcement of vehicles including buses abiding by our traffic laws are the responsibility of the Police,” said Galumalemana. “L.T.A. are only responsible for the inspection of vehicles as part of our vehicle registration functions. 

“The bus with license plate number MO123 that was involved in a crash at Malifa on 2nd October 2023 around 8 am has failed L.T.A. inspection.”

It is disappointing that the lack of enforcement is not making public transport buses safer for the general public. 

In March this year, a similar Toyota model public transport bus crashed in Fagaloa after the driver lost control as he drove downhill, resulting in the bus flipping over and landing on its wooden frame roof resulting in some of the passengers sustaining serious injuries. This particular bus belonged to the Tuisamau Bus Company with the crash occurring not far from the Fagaloa village. 

For a crash of this magnitude involving a public transport bus, one would have expected the authorities to immediately ground the bus owners’ entire fleet and subject them to investigation. 

Should that now happen to the Laumoso’oi Transport Company following the crash on Monday morning which has now claimed the life of one passenger? We believe the relevant State agency should act now and get all the company’s buses grounded.

It is not enough to wait for the driver of the Malifa crash bus to recover from his injuries before kick-starting the process of accountability for negligent driving. If this Falealili bus was able to service that route for five weeks – without the authorities being alerted to its faulty engine which culminated with the crash on Monday morning – this points to an alleged pattern of negligence by the company to ensure the roadworthiness of all its buses for the welfare of their paying passengers.

The fatal crash on Monday morning also puts the spotlight on the current Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) administration and how it intends to mitigate the challenges of reining in reckless public transport operators and holding them to account. Penalties targeting the bus companies should also be reviewed so not only are their drivers accountable but also their owners, who as the operators have a responsibility to ensure their vehicles are in compliance with road safety standards and are subject to monthly audits. 

Every year there is a crash by public transport buses, either on Upolu or Savai’i, which has often resulted in deaths. The death of the 66-year-old man from Poutasi Falealili on Monday night, after he succumbed to his injuries, wouldn’t have happened if there had been enforcement of traffic laws which should include on-the-spot checks.