Ba, a resident of Van An commune, was detained by the Nghe An Provincial Police Investigation Agency on the evening of 15/7.
Investigators have identified Ba as the driver of the five-seater car with Nghe An plates involved in the 4:46 p.m. accident on 13/7 that killed three people. Specific charges have yet to be announced.
 |
Ba, the driver, listening to the police reading the indictment on 15/7. Photo: Hoa Vang |
Ba, the driver, listening to the police reading the indictment on 15/7. Photo: Hoa Vang
Around 5 p.m. on 13/7, Ba was driving the five-seater car carrying Tran Hong Son, 35, Tran Huu Ba, 37, and Tran Van Trung, 35, on National Highway 46 from Kim Lien commune towards Van An commune in the former Nam Dan district.
Near Thien Duong Bridge in Van An commune, the car collided with two motorbikes. One motorbike was driven by Hoang Thi Quy, 52, a resident of Van An commune, traveling in the same direction. The other motorbike, carrying a family of four, was driven by Dau Dinh Cong, 32, a resident of Dai Hue commune, traveling in the opposite direction.
The five-seater car dragged Cong's 9-year-old son, crashed through over 10 meters of the bridge railing, and plunged into the Dao River. Ba and Trung were rescued by local people who swam out to them. Son went missing.
The moment the five-seater car hit two motorbikes and plunged into the river. Video: Hung Phu
The accident resulted in three fatalities: Cong, his 9-year-old son, and Son. The boy's body was found around 10 p.m. the same day, about 10 meters from the accident site. Cong died in the hospital. Son's body was recovered around 1 a.m. on 14/7, approximately 200 meters downstream, after an overnight search and rescue operation.
Four people, including Quy, Ba, Binh (Cong's wife), and their 4-year-old son, are currently being treated in the hospital. Binh is no longer in critical condition, and her son has regained consciousness but remains weak. Authorities have not released information about Ba's condition.
 |
Authorities recovering the five-seater car from the Dao River on the afternoon of 13/7. Photo: Hung Le |
Authorities recovering the five-seater car from the Dao River on the afternoon of 13/7. Photo: Hung Le
Dashcam footage from a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction shows Ba's car speeding, losing control, and hitting the two motorbikes before plummeting into the river amidst a cloud of dust. The bridge was busy with traffic at the time.
The accident occurred on a section of road over 20 meters wide leading to Thien Duong Bridge, about 200 meters from a populated area sign, where there is no speed limit. Roadworks to widen National Highway 46A are underway nearby.
A Van An commune leader who oversaw the rescue operation and evidence gathering at the scene stated that the five-seater car "showed signs of erratic behavior and high speed".
Thien Duong Bridge is approximately 150 meters long and 40 meters wide with railings on both sides. Construction is taking place near the area.
Duc Hung
