The Investigation Police Agency of Da Nang Police initiated a criminal case on 12/12 for violating road traffic regulations following a serious accident on the Da Nang - Quang Ngai expressway. The incident, which occurred at 4:12 on 9/12 on the section passing through Tam Xuan commune, resulted in four fatalities and seven serious injuries.

Initial findings by authorities point to several critical factors: the passenger bus was traveling at 93 km/h, failed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and its driver had been operating the vehicle continuously for over five hours, exceeding legal limits.

The accident scene. Photo: Thanh Phuoc

Surveillance data revealed that one minute before the collision, driver Pham Van Kieu was operating the Hanoi-plated passenger bus northbound on the expressway at 93 km/h. The bus subsequently collided with the rear of trailer 15R-149.06, which was pulled by tractor 15C-360.35, driven by Bui Manh Thang, 43 years old.

The accident claimed the lives of four individuals: Le Thi Dong and Vuong Van Tinh, both 37 years old from Hai Tien commune, and Hoang Thi Voc, 76 years old from Hai Quan commune, who all died at the scene. Tran Thi Vinh, 51 years old from Hai Thinh commune, succumbed to multiple injuries at the hospital.

Further investigations highlighted additional issues. The Traffic Police Department stated that the lack of synchronized infrastructure on the 131 km expressway, which has no rest stops despite six being planned, complicates monitoring and enforcement of driving hour regulations. This absence made it difficult for driver Kieu, who drove continuously for over five hours from Lam Dong to Da Nang, to comply with technical requirements for breaks. Furthermore, trailer driver Bui Manh Thang tested positive for drugs, and neither the driver nor the passengers on the bus were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Nguyen Dong