Around 6:20 on 7/5, Hung was driving a passenger car on the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen expressway towards Hanoi. As he approached the Hai Dang rest stop in Trung Thanh ward, Thai Nguyen province, his car hit scattered rocks and debris on the road. The impact caused a flat tire and a broken rim, making the car swerve violently.

The expressway surface covered in rocks and debris. Photo: Anh Hung

Hung stated that traveling at high speed, he had no time to react. "I had to replace both the tire and a new wheel, costing me about 5 million dong," he said. He added that at the scene, approximately 20 meters of the road surface, covering the lane next to the median and the emergency lane, was covered in rocks and debris. Some pieces weighed nearly 10 kg. The rain-slicked road made the situation more perilous.

While waiting for his tire to be changed, Hung witnessed about seven other vehicles encounter similar issues, forcing them to stop and change their spare tires. One truck, after hitting the debris, lost control and crashed into the median strip, damaging its front.

The truck was heavily damaged after hitting rocks and debris and crashing into the median. Photo: Anh Hung

Nguyen Minh Duc, a resident of Thai Nguyen, recounted narrowly avoiding a collision when the vehicle ahead suddenly swerved to avoid the debris. "Fortunately, I swerved in time, so no accident occurred," he said.

According to witnesses, around 5:30 on the same day, a dump truck's lid opened while traveling on the expressway, spilling rocks and debris onto the road. The driver initially stopped in the emergency lane but failed to clear the debris, then continued driving.

Over an hour later, the expressway management unit dispatched personnel to place warning cones. Traffic police then arrived to direct traffic. By approximately 9:00, the scattered rocks and debris were cleared.

A family had to stop to change a spare tire after getting a flat tire on the section of road with scattered rocks and debris. Photo: Anh Hung

According to Decree 168, the act of spilling rocks, debris, or construction materials onto the road is punishable by a fine of 2-4 million dong. In serious cases causing traffic unsafety, the fine can reach 15 million dong, along with a driver's license suspension of one to three months, points deduction from the license, and an obligation to clear the scene.

The Hanoi - Thai Nguyen expressway is nearly 71 km long, features four lanes, and has a design speed of 80-100 km/h. It traverses Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Thai Nguyen.

Viet An