A school bus driver has been sentenced to five months imprisonment after being found guilty of dangerous driving over an accident last year in which 25 people, including primary students, were injured.
Chan Kam-tong, aged 57, showed up at the District Court on crutches. He had previously pleaded guilty in an earlier court appearance and was sentenced to five months in prison on Tuesday. His driver's license was suspended for 15 months, and he was ordered to attend a driving improvement course.
On the afternoon of June 4, 2021, the school bus driven by Chan was traveling at high speed along Tai Chung Kiu Road in Sha Tin towards Ma On Shan when it suddenly veered out of control while overtaking and rammed into a curb. The bus then collided with a private vehicle before it crashed down a slope onto the Shing Mun River bike path.
On the school bus were 53 primary 2 students, a school bus childcare worker, and Chan himself. Twenty-three students, the childcare worker, and the private car driver suffered minor injuries. All were then discharged from the hospital on the same day. Chan also suffered from spinal cord injuries.
During the initial interviews, Chan claimed that the brakes failed. After a preliminary investigation at the scene, it was found that the bus was operating normally, and Chan was arrested for dangerous driving.
