One killed and at least 15 injured as tour bus hurtles down Hong Kong highway without driver
Driver, 57, thrown out of seat in chain collision with two other vehicles
At least 15 passengers were injured as a tour bus driver was thrown out of the vehicle and killed on Tuesday, leaving the coach careering driverless down the highway while a passenger attempted to stop it.
The incident took place very early morning at about 12.45am, when the bus hit two other vehicles on San Tin Highway near Tsing Lung Tsuen.
The driver, 57, was thrown from his seat onto the road, sustaining serious head injuries. He was later confirmed dead at the scene.
The bus continued down the highway without a driver. A passenger, reportedly an off-duty coach driver, attempted to gain control of the vehicle, which finally stopped after hitting a road divider 100 metres away.
Four-vehicle crash involving minibus in Hong Kong injures 17
At least 15 passengers on the bus, travelling from Tsuen Wan to the Huanggang border checkpoint, were injured.
Most were not in serious condition. Fourteen men and one woman, aged 17 to 67, were taken conscious to North District Hospital in Sheung Shui, Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long and Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po.
The bus was reportedly carrying more than 30 passengers.
The two vehicles hit by the coach were a medium goods vehicle driven by a 52-year-old man and a light goods vehicle driven by a 38-year-old man. The three vehicles were travelling in sequence when the medium goods vehicle broke down near Mai Po Lung. The light goods vehicle reportedly stopped, but the coach did not, leading to a chain collision.
The Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North, is investigating.
Members of the public who witnessed the accident or have any information to offer are urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.
