On 28/1, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police Investigation Agency announced the indictment and four-month detention of Phan Van Truong, 39, residing in Dong Loc commune, Ha Tinh province. He is under investigation for violating regulations on road traffic participation, under clause 3, Article 260 of the Penal Code.

According to investigation results, a particularly serious traffic accident involving three vehicles occurred at approximately 3:30 h on 14/1. The incident took place on the Mai Son – National Highway 45 expressway, in the section passing through Dong Tien commune, Thanh Hoa province.

The front and right side of the passenger bus were crushed after the multi-vehicle accident. *Lam Son*

At that time, Bui Van Hoi, 36, from Ninh Binh province, was driving a tractor-trailer in the Nghe An – Ha Noi direction. Traffic congestion caused by an accident ahead forced Mr. Hoi to stop his vehicle in the right lane.

Concurrently, Phan Van Truong was driving a passenger bus carrying 13 people in the same direction behind Mr. Hoi's vehicle. When about 40 m from the tractor-trailer, Truong swerved left to change lanes. He failed to observe and maintain a safe distance, causing the front of the bus to collide with the rear left of the tractor-trailer.

Following the initial impact, the bus was severely damaged, sending it into the left lane, adjacent to the concrete median. Immediately afterward, Nguyen Anh Tuan, 34, residing in Thanh Hoa province, driving another tractor-trailer in the right lane behind them, braked hard upon discovering the accident. However, due to the short distance, the front of his vehicle then collided with the two vehicles ahead.

The multi-vehicle collision resulted in four fatalities among the bus passengers: Phan Dinh Nhan, 60; Trinh Quyen, 64; Hoang Ba An, 50; and Vo Dang Quang Anh, 18. All four resided in Dong Loc commune, Ha Tinh. Additionally, six people were injured, including driver Phan Van Truong, and required hospital treatment.

Police examine the scene to investigate the cause of the accident on 14/1. *Lam Son*

According to Colonel Tran Thai Quang Hoang, Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, in addition to the two aforementioned errors, inspection results showed that the drivers involved did not have alcohol in their systems and did not use drugs or other stimulants.

Witnesses recounted that on the day of the accident, the bus was transporting a delegation of relatives and acquaintances of Dang Hoa from Ha Tinh to Hung Yen. Their purpose was to visit the groom's family and discuss organizing the wedding for his daughter, Dang Thi Dung.

This visit followed an engagement ceremony where the groom's family visited the bride's family in Ha Tinh a few days prior. On 14/1, at the invitation of the groom's family, the bride's family traveled to their home to inquire and discuss wedding matters.

Dang Thi Dung was not on the ill-fated bus, as she was in Tien Hai preparing for the reception. However, the accident claimed the lives of her eldest son, Vo Dang Quang Anh, and her maternal uncle, Trinh Quyen. Her father, Dang Hoa, and several other relatives are in critical condition.

Le Hoang