2008 Sai Kung bus crash

Last updated

2008 Nam Pin Wai tour bus accident
WIKINEWS 05 001.jpg
Accident scene on 1 May 2008
Details
Date1 May 2008
09:02 HKT
Location Hiram's Highway roundabout near Nam Pin Wai bus station, Nam Pin Wai , Sai Kung District
New Territories, Hong Kong
Incident type Rollover
Statistics
Passengers61
Deaths19
Injured43

On 1 May 2008, at approximately 09:02 HKT, a tour bus flipped onto its side on Hiram's Highway in Sai Kung District, New Territories. The crash killed 19 people and injured 43. [1]

Contents

The incident was Hong Kong's third deadliest road traffic accident, behind a 2018 incident killing 19 and injuring 61, and a 2003 incident which killed 21. [2]

Incident

Crash

On 1 May 2008, at 8:30 am, two tour buses carrying several members of the Shinji Shumeikai Hong Kong branch left from Tsz Wan Shan for Sai Kung. At around 9:02, one of the tour buses rolled over when entering the Hiram's Highway roundabout in Nam Pin Wai. The bus flipped onto its side and struck a noise barrier, causing the roof of the bus to collapse, trapping many passengers between the roof and the seats, and hindering rescue efforts. [3] [4]

Immediate aftermath

Firefighters arrived after nine minutes, [5] and 14 passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. A makeshift morgue was set up, the first time since a bus accident in 2003. Four more passengers died after being transferred to hospital, bringing the death toll to 18. Then-Chief Executive Donald Tsang visited Tseung Kwan O Hospital, where the largest amount of injured passengers were transferred, then visited the crash site. He expressed that this was Hong Kong's most serious traffic accident in recent years, and asked for all relevant departments to investigate the causes of this accident, as well as provide help for all affected families. [4] [6]

Four days after the crash, on 5 May, one more passenger died after being transferred to a hospital, bringing the death toll to a final of 19. Many of the survivors were left with lifelong injuries and disabilities.

Criminal proceedings

The 33-year-old bus captain, Hung Ling-kwok, was charged with dangerous driving causing death. [3] Investigators stated that Hung was travelling around 67 kph, while the speed limit was 50 kph. The bus was found to have no mechanical faults. [7] The judge in the case criticised Hung for descending the hill in the wrong gear, failing to use the throttle or exhaust brake, and ignoring warning signs including passengers' repeated calls to slow down. [8]

Hung apologised to the families of the victims in the District Court in June 2009, but the apology was not accepted. [7]

On 1 May 2009, Hung pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death, for which the maximum sentence was five years' imprisonment at the time of the offence. On 19 June 2009, Hung was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, with the maximum sentence being reduced in recognition of his guilty plea. His driving licence was also suspended for three years. [8] [9] However, as his driving licence suspension would take place during the period of his imprisonment, he would be able to drive upon his release. [10]

The families of victims, as well as survivors of the crash, called the sentence excessively lenient. They felt that the prison sentence was light, and said that Hung should not be allowed to drive again. [11] Hung evaded a longer jail term as new legislation raising the penalty for dangerous driving causing death (to ten years) only came into effect on 4 July 2008, and he was charged under the old law. [8] On 29 June 2009, the victims petitioned the Department of Justice for a review of the sentence. [10]

In response, the Department of Justice applied to the Court of Appeal to review the length of the driving ban. [12] On 15 April 2010, the Court of Appeal doubled the driving ban to six years. [13] [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Hong Kong</span>

Hong Kong has a highly developed transport network, encompassing both public and private transport. Based on Hong Kong Government's Travel Characteristics Survey, over 90% of daily journeys are on public transport, the highest rate in the world. However, in 2014 the Transport Advisory Committee, which advises the Government on transportation issues, issued a report on the much-worsened congestion problem in Hong Kong and pointed at the excessive growth of private cars during the past 10–15 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kau Sai Chau</span> Island of Hong Kong

Kau Sai Chau is an island located off the coast of Sai Kung Peninsula, Hong Kong, with an area of 6.70 km2, making it the 6th largest island of Hong Kong. It is under the administration of Sai Kung District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light Rail (MTR)</span> Hong Kong New Territories rail service

The Light Rail, also known as the Light Rail Transit (LRT), officially the North-West Railway, is a light rail system in Hong Kong, serving the northwestern New Territories, within Tuen Mun District and Yuen Long District. The system operates over 1,435 mmstandard gauge track, using 750 V DC overhead power supply. It was once one of four systems comprising the KCR network in Hong Kong, before the MTR–KCR merger in 2007. It has a daily ridership of about 483,000 people. The network is coloured goldenrod on the MTR map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Rail line</span> Hong Kong MTR railway line

The East Rail line is one of the ten lines that form MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. The railway line starts at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, both of which are boundary crossing points into Shenzhen and joins in the north at Sheung Shui and ends at Admiralty station on Hong Kong Island. At approximately 46 km (29 mi), the line is the second longest line within the network, behind the Tuen Ma line. The line's colour is light blue, formerly navy blue before the KCR/MTR merger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuen Mun Road</span> Highway in New Territories, Hong Kong

Tuen Mun Road is a major expressway in Hong Kong which connects Tuen Mun with Tsuen Wan, within the New Territories. It is part of Hong Kong's Route 9, which circumnavigates the New Territories. Opened in 1978, it was once the major trunk route linking the northwest New Territories to urban Kowloon and is known for its frequent traffic jams and road accidents owing to its early design and heavy usage. As a result, speed limits have been enforced to 70–80 km/h (45–50 mph) due to geometric constraints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chai Wan Road</span> Road on Hong Kong Island

Chai Wan Road located in Hong Kong, is one of the major roads in Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island. It runs from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan through Chai Wan Gap; with one of the steepest inclines in Hong Kong on either side, with signs posted 1 in 10 gradient. It is therefore popularly referred to as Cheung Meng Che (長命斜), or long-lived incline.

Alexander Fu Sheng, also known as Fu Sing, was a Hong Kong martial arts actor. One of Hong Kong's most talented performers, Fu rose to prominence in the 1970s starring in a string of movies with the Shaw Brothers that accrued him international stardom throughout Asia and parts of North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citybus Route 1</span> Bus route in Hong Kong

Citybus Route 1 is a bus route operated by Citybus (CTB) on Hong Kong Island, running between Sheung Wan and Happy Valley (Upper) via Central and Wan Chai.

The Benalmádena coach crash was a traffic accident on Saturday 19 April 2008 in the Málaga province in Andalusia, southern Spain. The accident happened on the highway AP-7 between Fuengirola and Torremolinos, near the town of Benalmádena, at about 19:45 local time. A 27-year-old man driving an SUV started to overtake a coach, transporting Finnish tourists to Málaga Airport. The SUV collided with the right-hand side barrier and bounced off to the side of the coach, causing the coach driver to lose control of the vehicle, which fell on its side in the middle of the highway. The SUV driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong 818 incident</span> Police lockdown of University of Hong Kong (2011)

The Hong Kong 818 incident was a case of alleged civil rights violations that occurred on 18 August 2011 at the University of Hong Kong during a visit by Li Keqiang, the then-Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China. His arrival at the school led to a lock-down and complete takeover of the school by the Hong Kong Police force. Controversy arose as a result of claims by the media and students that their rights had been violated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Lamma Island ferry collision</span> Maritime disaster in Hong Kong

On 1 October 2012, at approximately 20:23 HKT, the passenger ferries Sea Smooth and Lamma IV collided off Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, Hong Kong. This occurred on the National Day of the People's Republic of China, and one of the ships was headed for the commemorative firework display, scheduled to take place half an hour later. With 39 killed and 92 injured, the incident was the deadliest maritime disaster in Hong Kong since 1971.

<i>Speed of Life</i> (TV series) Hong Kong television drama

Speed of Life is a 2016 Hong Kong police procedural television drama created and produced by TVB, starring Kenny Wong, Benjamin Yuen, Natalie Tong and Sisley Choi as the main leads. Filming took place from October 2014 till January 2015 on location in Hong Kong. The drama premiered January 18, 2016 on Hong Kong's Jade and HD Jade channels, airing Monday through Sunday during its 9:30-10:30 pm timeslot, concluding February 7, 2016 with a total of 20 episodes.

The 2016 Taoyuan bus fire occurred on the ROC National Road No. 2, in the 2nd Taoyuan City Great Park section. The bus that was involved was carrying Chinese tourists. At 12:57 on July 19, 2016, on State Road at the 2nd West Park section, a bus operated by Red Coral Bus Team, with the license plate number 197-EE, having driven to within 4.2 km of Taoyuan airport, suddenly became on fire and started burning. The bus continued forwards for 2.9 km until it collided with a guardrail on the left side. After the driver swerved the bus to the right, it then collided with the right guardrail, after which tourists on the bus from Dalian walked to the back door to escape, but the door was jammed by the guardrail broken in the crash and could only open 10 cm wide, making escape impossible. Afterwards, a gravel truck driver saw the fire and quickly notified a policeman surnamed Lin. Together, they attempted a rescue by breaking the bus windows but were not successful, and eventually the entire bus was consumed by the blaze, causing all 26 passengers to die. This was the most serious bus accident in Taiwan that occurred in 2016, and also the most serious one since the 2010 Suhua Highway bus accident. BBC, The Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, NHK, Yomiuri Shimbun, CNN, the Daily Mirror, and various international media have made reports. An investigation by the Taoyuan District Prosecutor's Office found out that the bus driver had purposefully crashed after dousing the bus with gasoline and lighting it on fire.

Events in the year 2018 in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Hong Kong bus accident</span> Deadly double-decker bus crash

On 10 February 2018, at approximately 18:13 HKT, a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) double-decker bus flipped onto its side on Tai Po Road in Tai Po, New Territories. The crash killed 19 people and injured 65.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Tuen Mun Road bus accident</span> 2003 crash of a double-decker bus in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

In the morning of 10 July 2003, a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) double-decker bus plunged off a bridge near the Ting Kau section of the Tuen Mun Road in Tsuen Wan, New Territories. The crash killed 21 people and injured 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Guangzhou car attack</span> Mass murder in China

The 2023 Guangzhou car attack was a mass intentional injury incident that occurred on January 11, 2023, when the driver of a black BMW X3 deliberately rammed his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians and motorists on Tianhe Road in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The incident resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to 29 others. The perpetrator, identified as 22-year-old Wen Qingyun, was arrested, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed in April 2024 in connection with the attack.

On 16 September 2017 at around 4 pm Hong Kong Time, Annie Li Sin-heng, a student from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was murdered by Ng Yan-kin on board a Cross-Harbour route 118 bus operated by Citybus. Ng stabbed Li with a sharp knife 33 times on the upper deck while the bus was travelling along Chai Wan Road, then stabbed himself, smashed open a window with an emergency hammer and jumped out onto the ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheung Tung Road</span> Major Road on Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Cheung Tung Road is a road in Islands District, Hong Kong, running between Tung Chung, Discovery Bay Tunnel, and Yam O. It begins at Fu Tung Road near Tung Chung Station in the west, and runs parallel against the North Lantau Highway, and passes near Pak Mong, Siu Ho Wan and the northern exit of the Discovery Bay Tunnel, before reaching Sunny Bay Road at Yam O, near Sunny Bay Station. It is the only access to Discovery Bay by road. It is currently a two-way road with one lane each way. The length of the road is around 11 km long.

References

  1. ↑ Next Media (5 May 2008). "西貢旅巴慘劇 增至19人死亡" [Sai Kung tour bus tragedy: Death toll rises to 19] (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Next Animation Studio. Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  2. ↑ "Hong Kong bus overturns, killing at least 19 people". The Guardian . Agence-France Presse. 10 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 Lam, Anita (4 June 2009). "Bus crash driver to plead guilty". South China Morning Post. p. 1.
  4. 1 2 "Hong Kong bus crash leaves 18 dead". Taipei Times . 2 May 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "恐怖車禍專輯 旅巴西貢飛車撞翻 18女友慘死". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "曾蔭權形容為近年最嚴重車禍" [Donald Tsang describes (the crash) as the most serious traffic accident in recent years]. Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008.
  7. 1 2 Fong, Loretta (6 June 2009). "Driver in fatal bus crash apologises to victims' families". South China Morning Post. p. 3.
  8. 1 2 3 Man, Joyce (20 June 2009). "Driver jailed for crash that killed 19". South China Morning Post. p. 1.
  9. ↑ "法官判刑時痛罵罔顧全車乘客安全 罪無可恕 危駕奪19命 司機囚40月". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019.
  10. 1 2 Lam, Anita; Lee, Ada (30 June 2009). "Sai Kung crash relatives demand longer ban for jailed bus driver". South China Morning Post. p. 4.
  11. ↑ "Sentence disappoints victims still grappling with their pain". South China Morning Post. 20 June 2009. p. 1.
  12. ↑ Tsang, Phyllis (7 August 2009). "Bid to lengthen disqualification for driver who killed 19". South China Morning Post. p. 3.
  13. ↑ Tsui, Yvonne (16 April 2010). "Driving ban period doubled for bus driver in fatal crash". South China Morning Post. p. 3.
  14. ↑ "旅巴62死傷車禍 律政司成功覆核 危駕司機加刑停牌6年". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong. 16 April 2010. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.