Ho Van Phan, 22, from Tan Lap commune, is recovering from chest injuries at the General Surgery Department of Huong Hoa Regional General Hospital. He recounted how his family cultivates over 200 banana trees, harvesting them every afternoon to sell at Tan Long market the next morning. Around 7:00 a.m. on 17/9, he arrived at the intersection of Highway 9 and Provincial Road 258, in front of Tan Long market, with 8 bunches of bananas on his motorcycle.

For over 10 years, this 2,000 m2 intersection has served as a banana trading hub for local residents. The sidewalk in front of the market is lined with temporary kiosks made of iron frames and corrugated iron roofs, selling breakfast foods and produce. When Phan arrived, dozens of other banana sellers were already there.

Ho Van Phan is being treated for chest injuries at Huong Hoa Regional General Hospital. Photo: Dac Thanh

Ho Van Phan is being treated for chest injuries at Huong Hoa Regional General Hospital. Photo: Dac Thanh

At approximately 7:45 a.m., as the market bustled with activity, a truck heading from Dong Ha towards Lao Bao border gate suddenly plowed into the group of banana sellers. The truck dragged several people and motorcycles underneath, scattering green banana bunches dozens of meters away. The truck then mounted the market's half-meter-high step, demolished the row of temporary kiosks, and finally stopped after crashing into a watch repair shop within the main market building.

"It was chaos, people were screaming, some were motionless, dead. I saw the truck coming, but it was going so fast that I couldn't escape," Phan said. He was thrown two meters, landing on Highway 9. His chest slammed against the road, leaving him with scrapes and bruises. His motorcycle was crushed under the truck.

Sharing a room with Phan is Le Van Phuoc, 48, whose face is half-bandaged after receiving four stitches. Having worked as a watch repairman at Tan Long market for nearly 20 years, Phuoc was accustomed to the bustling banana trade in front of the market and had witnessed numerous collisions, but nothing as "horrific" as this.

Le Van Phuoc's face is bandaged after being struck by shards of glass. Photo: Dac Thanh

Le Van Phuoc's face is bandaged after being struck by shards of glass. Photo: Dac Thanh

At 7:45 a.m. on 17/9, Phuoc had just opened his kiosk and was arranging his goods in the glass display case when he saw the "truck speeding like a bullet" towards him. "It took only about 4 seconds for the truck to travel from Highway 9 to my shop," Phuoc explained, describing how he saw the accident unfold but couldn't react in time. The truck smashed into the glass display case, sending shards flying. One shard struck Phuoc's face, causing a deep gash and soaking his shirt with blood.

"If the truck had gone another meter and hit the building wall, I might not be here," he said.

20 minutes after the accident, doctors and medical staff from Huong Hoa Regional General Hospital arrived at the scene with ambulances. They assessed Phan and Phuoc's injuries as minor and prioritized transporting the more seriously injured victims first. Around 9:00 a.m., both men were taken to Huong Hoa Hospital, about 8 km away.

The scene of the accident in Lao Bao commune on the morning of 17/9. Video: Dac Thanh

Among the victims was the Laotian wife of Ho Van Vi. Vi lives near the border, adjacent to Lao Bao commune. For years, he has cultivated over 200 banana trees and regularly sold them at Tan Long market. On the morning of 17/9, Vi brought his wife, Ho Thi Be, who was over 8 months pregnant, and 8 bunches of bananas to the market. They planned to sell the bananas to buy supplies for their 2-year-old child and the baby on the way.

Vi was selling bananas on Provincial Road 528, about 30 meters from Highway 9. "My wife was standing with me for a bit, then went to buy some breakfast pastries. She had only walked about 20 meters when the truck hit her," he said, weeping. He abandoned his banana cart and rushed to his wife, who was trapped at the front of the truck. People tried to pull her out, but she had already died.

According to authorities, the accident killed 3 people (two Laotians and one Vietnamese from A Doi commune) and injured 9. Three individuals with traumatic brain injuries, broken legs, and crushed chests were transferred to Quang Tri General Hospital. Six others with injuries to the abdomen, head, back, and legs are being treated at Huong Hoa Regional General Hospital.

Ho Van Vi lost his wife in the accident. Photo: Dac Thanh

Ho Van Vi lost his wife in the accident. Photo: Dac Thanh

According to authorities, the truck, bearing a Nghe An license plate, was driven by Tran Minh Hoang, 52, from Ho Chi Minh City. Hoang crossed into the wrong lane, causing the accident. He was charged and detained on the afternoon of 17/9 for "Violation of road traffic regulations" under Article 260 of the Penal Code.

Phan Phong Phu, Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Province, arrived at the scene to direct relevant agencies to focus on treating the injured and providing initial support to the families of the deceased. Lao Bao commune provided 5 million dong to each family with a fatality, 3 million dong to those seriously injured, and 2 million dong to those with minor injuries.

The 83 km, two-lane Highway 9 leading to the Lao Bao International Border Gate winds through hills and mountains. The section intersecting with Provincial Road 258 slopes upwards from Dong Ha towards the border gate, is densely populated on both sides, and has a speed limit of 50 km/h.

Traffic volume, particularly container trucks carrying goods from Laos and Thailand, has been increasing on Highway 9. Quang Tri Province has previously proposed constructing the Cam Lo - Lao Bao expressway and expanding Highway 9 to meet the growing trade demands through the Lao Bao border gate.

Dac Thanh