Police still waiting to find out if they can charge driver of runaway Hong Kong school bus that killed five and injured nine with manslaughter
- Man has bail extended and must report back to police next month after being arrested for three traffic-related offences on May 10
- The 62-year-old suffered serious injuries trying to stop the bus
Police are still waiting to find out if they can charge the driver of an out-of-control school bus that killed five people and injured 10 others, including himself, with manslaughter, law enforcement sources have said.
This was revealed as the 62-year-old, who was in charge of a bus that rolled down a hill in North Point in December, had his bail extended when he reported to police on Tuesday. He must report to police again next month.
Officers arrested the man, surnamed Ng, for three traffic-related offences on May 10, but they are waiting for the Department of Justice to decide if there is sufficient evidence to charge him with manslaughter.
Ng’s arrest came after he left hospital several months ago, having received treatment for the life-threatening injuries he sustained in the incident.
A police spokesman said the driver had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, and vacating a motor vehicle without having set the brake.
A source familiar with the case said the man was likely to be prosecuted for the offence of vacating a vehicle without setting the handbrake, the maximum penalty for which is a fine of HK$2,000.
The source said a court summons might be issued to him later.
“The Department of Justice is also studying whether there is sufficient evidence to charge him with manslaughter,” he said.
Video footage of the accident shows the 19-seater parked on Cheung Hong Street at about 2pm on December 10, and the driver getting out. As Ng slams the door shut, the bus begins moving.
The footage shows him trying to stop the vehicle with his body, but he is knocked down as it picks up speed and dragged along for about 20 metres.
The bus shot downhill crossing King’s Road and crashing into a group of pedestrians on the pavement, before it smashed into a shop in Hei Wo Street – about 100 metres away from where it was originally parked.
An 80-year-old woman was declared dead at the scene, while another three elderly pedestrians – two men and one woman – died in hospital the same day.
The fifth victim was an 89-year-old man who died in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, in Chai Wan, on January 8.
Ng suffered serious head, neck and backbones injuries in the incident, according to police.
After receiving treatment he recovered and was discharged from hospital earlier this year, according to a source.
The crash was one of 107 fatal traffic accidents in 2018. In February last year,a KMB double-decker flipped onto its side in Tai Po, killing 19 people and injuring more than 60 others.
–
