3 passers-by hurt in Hong Kong as Lexus driver ‘loses control while reversing’, mounts pavement
- Car careered out of control, spun in a circle and hit three passers-by before it came to a stop, police source says
- Two women and a man slightly injured and taken to United Christian Hospital for treatment; driver also sent there after complaining of dizziness
Three pedestrians escaped serious injury when an out-of-control Lexus mounted a pavement and hit them as the driver tried to reverse on a busy market street in Hong Kong on Monday.
The driver, 68, had pulled over at a lay-by on Shui Wo Street near the junction with Shung Yan Street in Kwun Tong at about 9.30am, with his passenger leaving the grey luxury vehicle.
“A preliminary investigation suggested the driver tried to reverse, but he stepped on the pedal heavily. The car then careered out of control, spun in a circle and hit three passers-by before it came to a stop,” a police source said.
Surveillance camera footage showed passers-by running for safety as the car mounted the pavement in reverse. One of them was unable to get out of the way in time and was knocked down by the vehicle.
The car’s front bumper and grille broke off in the accident and lay in several pieces on the road.
“Shouldn’t you check the injured?” a male passer-by could be heard in a video clip asking an elderly man, thought to be the driver, who collected the broken bumper and placed it at the front of the car.
In the video, one of the injured was seen sitting on the pavement and receiving treatment from a paramedic.
According to a police spokeswoman, the three passers-by – two women and a man, aged 66 to 69 – were slightly injured and taken to United Christian Hospital for treatment.
She said the driver complained of feeling dizzy and was also sent to the same hospital for a check-up.
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Acting superintendent Yuen Sze-hoo of the Kowloon East traffic unit said on Monday evening that the driver was reversing while trying to park, but inappropriately applied the accelerator and the brake and lost control.
“We will be looking into the driver’s driving attitude and behaviour, the car mechanics and the road conditions in a multi-aspect investigation,” Yuen said, adding that the man’s physical condition would also be taken into account.
Two of the injured pedestrians were later discharged from hospital, while the other was in stable condition but still being held for observation.
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The driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, according to police, with officers from the Kowloon East traffic unit investigating the case. Members of the public with information are invited to contact investigators at 3661 0232.
In the first 11 months of last year, 90 people died and 1,684 others suffered serious injuries in traffic accidents across the city.
