At a meeting on 27/7 chaired by the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee (UBND), a representative from the Ha Tinh provincial police reported that initial investigations indicated the driver, Le Ngoc Thanh, 36, from Thanh Hoa province, was speeding, which led to the bus losing control and causing the fatal accident. Thanh is currently in custody, being investigated for "Violation of road traffic regulations" under Article 260 of the penal code.
The case was filed on 26/7, and Ha Tinh provincial police are collaborating with the Institute of Criminal Science (Ministry of Public Security) and other relevant units to continue the investigation. The bus owner and driver have not yet been able to present the required permits for operating a fixed route.
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Investigators examine the scene of the accident on 25/7. Photo: Duc Hung |
Investigators examine the scene of the accident on 25/7. Photo: Duc Hung
According to the Da Nang Department of Construction, the bus previously operated on a fixed route from the Da Nang central bus station to the Da Lat inter-provincial bus station in Lam Dong province. On 16/7, the Department issued a notice suspending the fixed transport route for this vehicle, revoking its permit and changing its status to "expired."
The bus was manufactured in 2023, with its inspection valid until 6/2026. The bus is not currently registered for transport business with the Da Nang Department of Construction. The competent authority has not yet issued a permit, but the bus operator still put the vehicle into operation.
On the evening of 24/7, the sleeper bus with a Da Nang license plate, driven by Thanh, was carrying 28 passengers from Hanoi to Da Nang. At 2:10 AM on 25/7, while traveling on National Highway 1 through Song Tri ward, the former Ky Anh town, the bus collided with a milestone and a high-voltage power pole by the roadside before overturning. The crash resulted in 10 fatalities and 15 injuries.
The scene of the accident on 25/7. Video: Duc Hung - Anh Phu - Do Nam
The section of National Highway 1 where the accident occurred is about 12 m wide, with two lanes and clear visibility on both sides, a slope of about 2%, and no bends.
14 injured passengers are now in stable condition and have been discharged from the hospital. One Laotian victim, who suffered a fractured cervical vertebra and is at risk of paralysis, was transferred to Hue Central Hospital for treatment on the afternoon of 25/7.
The Ha Tinh UBND, the Traffic Safety Board, and the provincial police have provided 40 million VND to each family of the deceased and 12 million VND to each injured person. The Song Tri ward UBND also allocated 25 million VND to families of the deceased and 5 million VND to the injured from its budget.
Duc Hung
