Tai Po residents pay respects to victims of fatal Mid-Autumn traffic accident

Several Tai Po residents gathered outside the Refuse Collection Point near Po Heung Lane in Tai Po to pay respects to the two victims of a fatal traffic accident that occurred Monday. 

The deadly collision in Tai Po on the Mid-Autumn Festival afternoon turned a festive day somber, as a private car crashed into a light van, killing an 88-year-old woman and her 37-year-old Indonesian domestic worker.

A local resident said that she had known the elderly woman for decades and expressed disbelief over the tragedy, noting the dangers of crossing the road in that area. 

“It’s so upsetting, I couldn’t sleep the whole night,” she said. 

Another resident, surnamed Cheung, brought flowers to the site, stating that he did not know the victims personally but often saw seniors accompanied by domestic helpers. Hearing about the incident made him feel "unhappy," and he wanted to express his condolences.

The victims lived in the Pan Chung Village in Tai Po, and the elderly woman had children and grandchildren, representing a happy family life that was abruptly shattered by this unforeseen tragedy. 

The elderly woman’s daughter-in-law expressed her grief Tuesday morning, stating that the helper had been serving the elderly for around two years. The two had gone out to buy groceries for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration but never returned. 

A private car crashed into a light van at around 3.53pm on Monday, which then struck the Indonesian domestic helper and her employer. The domestic helper was tragically trapped between the truck and a lamp post and died instantly, while the elderly woman sustained severe head injuries and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The other two injured individuals of the accident were the 64-year-old male driver preparing to board the light van and the 71-year-old female passenger in the private car, both of whom sustained minor injuries and were taken to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for treatment. 

The 60-year-old driver of the private car, surnamed Chung, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is being detained for investigation.