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Road safety in Hong Kong
Hong KongSociety

Hong Kong bus passengers furious with driver moments after deadly crash, witness claims

Accident on Tai Po Road claimed the lives of 19 people over the weekend

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The scene after a KMB bus crashed on Tai Po Road on Saturday. Photo: Felix Wong
Cannix Yau

Raging tempers flared against the driver behind the wheel of a Hong Kong bus moments after a deadly crash that killed 19 people at the weekend, according to an eyewitness.

Speaking on a radio programme on Monday, a passenger surnamed Yau recalled how he had an urge to hit the 30-year-old driver moments after he was injured in the KMB bus crash.

“I was very angry at that moment. When I saw him I had an immediate urge to beat him up. But other passengers asked me to calm down and they successfully separated us,” he said.

“I also heard an outburst of anger directed at the driver from other passengers. One of them had blood over his face. They were all cursing him,” he added.

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On Saturday evening, 18 passengers were killed and more than 60 injured when the KMB double-decker, travelling from Sha Tin racecourse towards Tai Po via route 872, toppled on its side as the driver negotiated a turn near Tai Po Tsuen. The death toll rose to 19 on Sunday.

The driver, surnamed Chan, was arrested for dangerous driving causing death, but police are looking into the possibility of manslaughter, pending further investigations. The government has pledged to launch a judge-led inquiry into the tragedy.

Bus company shares blame for fatal crash, KMB staff union representative says

Yau was one of the passengers who lined up at the bus terminus at Sha Tin racecourse, and he said there was already a commotion as passengers had waited for over 10 minutes.

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