Two sleeper buses collide on Trung Luong expressway

Two sleeper buses traveling in the same direction collided on the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong expressway, causing panic among dozens of passengers and a traffic jam several kilometers long on the afternoon of 1/8.

Around 1 p.m., a 41-seat sleeper bus with a Dong Thap license plate, driven by a 44-year-old man, was traveling from Ho Chi Minh City towards the Mekong Delta. When it reached An Thanh commune (Ben Luc district, Long An), the bus rear-ended a 34-seat sleeper bus with a Ho Chi Minh City license plate, driven by a 42-year-old, also from Dong Thap.

The Dong Thap bus sustained front-end damage and a broken windshield after the collision. Photo: Nam An

The Dong Thap bus sustained front-end damage and a broken windshield after the collision. Photo: Nam An

The accident caused damage to the front and rear of both buses, shattering windows. Approximately 30 passengers on the two buses were shaken, but no one was injured. The two buses blocked the innermost lane, causing a traffic jam that stretched for several kilometers. Expressway traffic police diverted traffic, directing vehicles to National Highway 1 to alleviate congestion.

The incident caused a traffic jam on the expressway. Photo: Nam An

The incident caused a traffic jam on the expressway. Photo: Nam An

The Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong expressway is almost 62 km long with 4 lanes and opened in 2010. After tolls were discontinued in early 2019, traffic volume increased by 30%, averaging 40,000-50,000 vehicles per day. This has led to road deterioration and an increase in accidents.