French woman died in Lan Kwai Fong car crash, driver to appear in court on Mon

A French woman died on Saturday after she was hit by a car which rolled backwards down a slope at Lan Kwai Fong in Central on Friday. 

The 27-year-old was certified dead at 6.35pm on Saturday, while her companion was in serious condition.

A 44-year-old female driver was charged with dangerous driving causing death and will appear in Eastern Magistrates' Courts on Monday.

The incident was said to have occurred because the car's handbrake was not fully engaged. 

The 44-year-old woman, a domestic helper, allegedly drove her employer to Lan Kwai Fong at around 8pm on Friday and parked the white car facing upward on the steeply sloped Peel Street. 

As the helper and the employer got out of the car and were about to close the doors, the vehicle rolled backward because the driver didn't fully engage the handbrake. The car rolled backward down the slope for over 100 meters and hit eight pedestrians. 

The car finally came to a halt after crashing into Pak Kung Temple on Staunton Street. 

According to footage on the internet, the car rolled over at least one pedestrian and dragged her along the road. Over 20 citizens who witnessed the accident helped lift the car and rescued two French women trapped beneath it, aged 27 and 31. 

The two were rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in critical condition.

Six other men and women who were injured were sent to Ruttonjee Hospital. As of Sunday, one man remained hospitalized in stable condition. 

The private car concerned has been transported to a police vehicle pound pending inspection.