Driver in Hong Kong bus crash that killed six suspected of ‘not paying attention’, sources say
- Man, 56, still in custody after arrest for causing death by dangerous driving in Sheung Shui
- Transport official says department ‘did not receive a report specifying any special road conditions’ before Wednesday’s crash, in which 39 others were injured
The bus driver involved in a crash that killed six passengers and injured 39 others in northern Hong Kong was suspected of not paying attention at the time of the accident, a source close to the investigation said on Thursday.
Before lunchtime, the 56-year-old was still in custody, having been arrested for causing death by dangerous driving on Wednesday, as it emerged he had driven three different routes that day.
The man was likely to be suspended from driving while police investigated the cause of the incident on Fanling Highway near Tsung Pak Long in Sheung Shui at about 4.15pm on Wednesday.
According to police, the double-decker had been in the slow lane but veered into the roadside barrier on the left before hitting a tree. Part of its roof was ripped open and two passengers were thrown from the vehicle.
Sources close to the investigation said the driver had been assigned to three bus routes per day, including the 978 and 373, over the past two years, the third a short route within Sheung Shui district. The 978 and 373 go from northern Hong Kong to Wan Chai and Central, respectively.
The driver was on route 978, taking his last scheduled trip of the day, when the crash happened. KMB said he had been with the company for 18 years and had just returned for duty after a day off on Tuesday.