2018 Hong Kong bus accident
Accident scene on 10 February 2018
Details
Date10 February 2018
18:13 HKT
LocationTai Po Mei, Tai Po Road
New Territories, Hong Kong
Line872
OperatorKowloon Motor Bus
Incident typeRollover
CauseExcessive speed.
Statistics
Deaths19
Injured65
The bus involved, photographed 32 minutes prior to the accident
Crash site after the wreck was removed

On 10 February 2018, at approximately 18:13 HKT, a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) double-decker bus flipped onto its side on Tai Po Road in Tai Po, New Territories. The crash killed 19 people and injured 65.

The incident, also known as the 872 accident (Chinese: 872意外) after the number of the route the bus was traveling on, was Hong Kong's second-deadliest road traffic accident, behind a 2003 incident on Tuen Mun Road which killed 21.[1]

In July 2020, the bus captain was sentenced to imprisonment for 14 years over the crash. In addition, he is no longer allowed to drive any vehicles.

Incident

Crash

The Volvo Super Olympian bus (Wright Explorer bodied, fleet number AVW78, registration number LX 9991) was running on route 872, a special route operated only on horse racing days. It was travelling from Sha Tin Racecourse, following a race day, to Tai Po Centre in Tai Po New Town.[2]

Before boarding the bus, the driver chatted with a bus fan for some time.[3] It was reported that the bus departed the racecourse 10 minutes late, leading some passengers to scold and quarrel with the driver.[4][5][3] Passengers said the driver then became frustrated, and "drove really fast as if he was throwing a tantrum". They said he drove "very, very fast" the whole time, without slowing for turns.[4][6]

As the bus was travelling on a downhill section of Tai Po Road, near Tai Po Mei village, it came to a bend where it flipped onto its left side, hitting a lamp post and destroying the Tai Po Mei bus stop.[7][8] Eighteen people were killed at the scene.

Immediate aftermath

Immediately after the crash, some passengers tried to attack the driver.[4][9] Fire services officers had to cut into the bus to rescue those trapped inside, an operation that took about 85 minutes.[5] A makeshift morgue was set up at the roadside.[4]

The death toll rose to 19 when a man died at 4:00 am the following morning at United Christian Hospital.[10] Excluding this person, the accident left 65 people injured.[11]

The affected section of Tai Po Road was closed for 12 hours following the incident. Other bus routes normally plying the route were diverted to Tolo Highway. The road was partly closed again the following afternoon to accommodate a ceremony attended by about 200 mourners, government officials, and KMB management.[12][8]

Response

Kowloon Motor Bus

The bus company posted on their Facebook page: "KMB expresses extreme regret and sadness at this accident, and deeply apologises."[13] The company said it would give HK$80,000 to every affected family, and would form a committee to investigate the accident.[14]

On 15 February 2018, in response to concerns raised by trade unions and the public (see below), KMB announced that it had ceased giving shifts to part-time drivers who worked fewer than 18 hours per week. This comprises about 209 of around 360 part-time drivers.[15] It also said it had suspended the hiring of new part-time drivers.[16]

On 18 February 2018, service on KMB route 872 resumed. To provide passengers peace of mind, the route was changed to only use single-decker buses. Also, a new express route 872X commenced, which bypasses Tai Po Road (where the crash occurred) and uses Tolo Highway instead.[17]

According to The Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong's Franchised Bus Service, formed after the accident, KMB was considering spending HK$200 million to install seatbelts on older KMB buses in Hong Kong to increase bus safety. They have also tested an anti-drowsiness device for drivers which will use facial recognition software to detect the driver's level of alertness. In addition, KMB announced that 160 buses equipped with electronic stability systems and speed-limiting devices were expected to arrive in Hong Kong by August 2018. KMB has also tried reducing the special shifts of drivers from 14 hours to 13.[18][19]

Hong Kong government

On the night of the accident, chief executive Carrie Lam visited victims at the Prince of Wales Hospital and announced that a separate commission of inquiry, led by a judge, would be set up to investigate the safety of the public transport system, in particular, of the public buses.[10][2][20] She also said that relatives of the dead would each receive $300,000, while the injured would receive between $150,000 and $250,000 each. These funds have been provided by various charitable organisations including the Jockey Club, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Yan Chai Hospital, and Pok Oi Hospital.[14]

The government also announced that flags would be flown at half-mast, and the annual Lunar New Year fireworks over Victoria Harbour, scheduled for 17 February, would be cancelled in an expression of grief.[21]

On 13 March 2018, the Vice President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Michael Lunn, was named as chairman of the three-member commission of inquiry.[22]

Unions

The day after the crash, the Motor Transport Workers General Union (affiliated with the Federation of Trade Unions) held a press conference to criticise working conditions at KMB. They said that poor pay has led to a shortage of drivers, and alleged that drivers are not provided enough training nor permitted sufficient rest. Similarly, the Confederation of Trade Unions picketed the company's headquarters in protest of alleged low salaries.[11] Kwok Wai-kwong, chairman of the KMB Staff Union, criticised the company's practice of hiring part-time drivers. He characterised them as amateurish, and said the company required they only train for two days (while full time drivers must complete 18 days of training).[23][24] KMB driver Yip Wai Lam started an impromptu strike with several drivers at KMB on the following Sunday, which brought the bus company to the table for negotiation over working hours and conditions.[25]

Public

The day following the crash, there were hours-long queues at Hong Kong Red Cross blood donation centres as thousands of Hongkongers sought to help those injured in the accident. The Causeway Bay Donor Centre extended its operating hours to accommodate the queue.[26][27] The Red Cross announced that it would keep 12 blood donation centres open through the Lunar New Year holiday.[28]

Driver

A KMB manager stated that the 30-year-old bus driver, Chan Ho-ming, had been employed with the company since 2014.[13][29][24] Media reported that he had worked part time since 2017 and was not assigned to a specific route, but ordinarily worked on Saturdays and Sundays driving special routes.[30][24] He survived the accident and was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.[14] Chan appeared at the Fanling Magistrates' Court on 13 February 2018. He did not enter a plea, was denied bail, and was remanded in custody. In October his charges were upgraded to include multiple counts of manslaughter; a conviction would be punishable by life imprisonment.[31]

The company initially said Chan had a "good driving record", had driven the route before, and had received enough rest before his shift.[14] Contradicting KMB's claim that he possessed a good safety record, media alleged that he had been at the helm of another KMB bus that crashed in Kwai Chung on 2 August 2014. While making a turn at speed, his Dennis Trident 3 double-decker was seriously damaged after it slammed into kerbside railings and a structural column in the bus terminus at Kwai Fong station.[32] A passenger and a pedestrian were injured.[3] KMB subsequently admitted that Chan had been involved in this accident. He was convicted of careless driving, had driving offence points deducted, and had been fined. The company afterward deemed him fit to continue working.[24][23] Chan has been reported to be a bus fan active on online bus enthusiast communities. A friend stated that he possessed a "bad driving attitude".[3]

In 2020, the bus captain pleaded guilty to 19 counts of manslaughter and 19 counts of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to another person, totaling 38 charges. The magistrate accused the defendant of being selfish and ignoring the safety of passengers. On 7 July 2020, Chan was sentenced to 14 years in prison and had all his driving licences revoked for life.[33]

Investigation

A view of the downhill approach to the crash site

Immediately following the crash, passengers told local media that the driver was exceeding the speed limit.[34] The police said they also suspected that the bus was speeding.[5] They said that alcohol was not a factor in the accident.[4]

A passenger on the bus stated that "he felt as if the bus was travelling at 80 to 100 kilometres per hour (50 to 62 mph)". Investigator Lo Kok-keung estimated the bus entered the bend at up to 68 km/h (42 mph), and said a safe travelling speed for the turn would be 30 to 50 km/h (19 to 31 mph).[12][8]

The wrecked bus was removed from the site on the morning of 11 February and was transported to Tai Lam Chung for examination. The police said that the investigation would cover the speed, the mechanical condition of the bus, and the psychological state of the driver.[5] The crash was investigated by the Regional Crime Unit, New Territories North.[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hong Kong bus overturns, killing at least 19 people". The Guardian. Agence-France Presse. 10 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 Ramzy, Austin (10 February 2018). "Hong Kong Bus Crash Kills at Least 18 and Injures Over 60". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Cheung, Jane (12 February 2018). "Part-time driver an avid bus fan". The Standard.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Chan, Riley (12 February 2018). "Passenger tells of high-speed tantrum". The Standard.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Experts to examine wreckage from fatal bus crash". RTHK. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018.
  6. ↑ Leung, Rachel; Yeung, Raymond (11 February 2018). "Passengers claim bus driver was 'throwing a tantrum' before horrific Tai Po crash". South China Morning Post.
  7. ↑ 【大埔公路翻九巴】872出事前最後照片 車長口罩開工未覺有異樣. HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 10 February 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "Lam vows judge-led probe after Tai Po bus crash claims 19 lives". Hong Kong Economic Journal. 12 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Yau, Cannix (12 February 2018). "Hong Kong bus passengers furious with driver moments after deadly crash, witness claims". South China Morning Post.
  10. 1 2 Tong, Elson (11 February 2018). "Tai Po bus crash: Hong Kong gov't to set up inquiry as death toll rises to 19". Hong Kong Free Press.
  11. 1 2 "Union slams KMB working conditions". RTHK. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018.
  12. 1 2 Lau, Chris; Kao, Ernest; Leung, Rachel; Su, Xinqi (11 February 2018). "Hong Kong bus crash survivor describes horror of accident that killed 19 people". South China Morning Post.
  13. 1 2 Grundy, Tom; Lai, Catherine (10 February 2018). "19 killed, over 60 injured in Hong Kong double-decker bus crash". Hong Kong Free Press.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Choi, Jimmy (10 February 2018). "Fatal KMB bus crash is the worst in 15 years". RTHK. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018.
  15. ↑ Cheng, Kris (16 February 2018). "Part-time driver in fatal Hong Kong bus crash did not drive route in training, KMB admits". Hong Kong Free Press.
  16. ↑ Sung, Timmy (15 February 2018). "KMB drops part-time drivers after crash outcry". RTHK. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Kao, Ernest (18 February 2018). "Buses back on route of deadly Hong Kong crash but sense of unease lingers". South China Morning Post.
  18. ↑ Sum, Lok-kei (12 September 2018). "Hong Kong's KMB looking to spend HK$200 million on seat belts for older buses". South China Morning Post.
  19. ↑ Leung, Kanis (27 April 2019). "Hong Kong buses soon to be equipped with anti-drowsiness systems – and a range of other eye-opening safety measures". South China Morning Post.
  20. ↑ "Judge to head inquiry into fatal bus accident: CE". RTHK. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018.
  21. ↑ Grundy, Tom (12 February 2018). "Hong Kong cancels New Year fireworks, flags to fly at half-mast as city mourns fatal bus crash victims". Hong Kong Free Press.
  22. ↑ "Justice Michael Lunn to head bus crash probe". RTHK. 13 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018.
  23. 1 2 九巴改口認車禍兼職車長曾不小心駕駛. Hong Kong Economic Times (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 11 February 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Lai, Catherine (12 February 2018). "Driver in fatal Tai Po double-decker crash was previously convicted of dangerous driving". Hong Kong Free Press.
  25. ↑ Ng, Kang-chung (25 February 2018). "Woman who led KMB drivers' strike suspended from work". South China Morning Post.
  26. ↑ Mok, Danny (11 February 2018). "Blood donors flood Red Cross centres in Hong Kong to help 40 injured victims of fatal bus crash". South China Morning Post.
  27. ↑ Sum, Lok-kei (12 February 2018). "Over 1,000 people queue to give blood". The Standard.
  28. ↑ Sum, Lok-kei (13 February 2018). "'Keep giving' call as blood donors set a new record". The Standard.
  29. ↑ Ma, Mary (12 February 2018). "Time to take high road on safety". The Standard.
  30. ↑ 【大埔翻巴士】乘客埋怨遲到10分鐘 疑車長發難狂掟彎. Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 10 February 2018.
  31. ↑ "Manslaughter charges for KMB bus driver in crash that killed 19 passengers". South China Morning Post. 11 October 2018.
  32. ↑ 【九巴翻側】司機疑曾涉葵芳車禍 昨上班戴口罩. Headline Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  33. ↑ "Tai Po bus driver jailed for 14 years over crash". RTHK. 7 July 2020.
  34. ↑ Ducharme, Jamie (10 February 2018). "18 Killed in Hong Kong's Deadliest Bus Accident in More Than a Decade". Time.
  35. ↑ "Fatal traffic accident in Tai Po". Hong Kong Government. 11 February 2018.

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