On the evening of 21/7, the Dong Nai City Police Investigation Agency prosecuted and temporarily detained Tran Thanh Hai, 41, from Khanh Hoa. He faces charges of violating road traffic regulations under Article 260 of the Penal Code.

Police examine the scene of the bus fire. Photo: *Phuoc Tuan*

Initial investigation results indicate that around 2h, Hai was driving a sleeper bus operated by Nam Lu Trade and Transport Company Limited (LLC), transporting 37 passengers and an assistant from Khanh Hoa to TP HCM on National Highway 1A.

As the bus reached Hung Thinh hamlet in Dong Nai's Hung Thinh commune, Hai dozed off at the wheel. The vehicle then repeatedly collided with two sections of the guardrail on the right side of the road.

The impact caused the guardrail to pierce the bus's underside, leading to an engine shutdown and a fierce fire erupting from the front. The bus, equipped with a single pneumatic door, became inoperable once the engine stopped, preventing the door from opening.

Hai and assistant Le Quoc Dat managed to break open the main door, guiding some passengers to safety. However, the fire and smoke rapidly engulfed the entire vehicle, trapping many inside.

The accident resulted in 7 fatalities and 6 injuries. The bus and numerous passenger belongings were completely destroyed. Following the incident, Hai surrendered to Hung Thinh Commune Police.

Registration data shows the 24-seat sleeper bus was manufactured in Vietnam in 2026. It received a contract vehicle permit from 1/2026, valid until 1/2033. The vehicle was first registered for inspection on 28/1, with its validity extending to 27/1/2028.

Phuoc Tuan