5 months for driver in school-bus crash

A school-bus driver has been sentenced to five months in jail after he admitted to dangerous driving that led to a crash that injured 25 people in Sha Tin in June last year.

Chan Kam-tong, 57, had pleaded guilty to a count of dangerous driving after the bus rammed into a barrier and several traffic lights, hit a private car and then veered into a cycle lane on June 4 last year.

The bus was carrying 55 passengers, mostly primary school students. A total of 23 students, a nanny and the private car driver were injured.

District Court Judge Pang Chung-ping yesterday jailed Chan - who is suffering from liver cancer - for five months, suspended his license for 18 months and ordered him to take driving lessons.

Pang said Chan deliberately violated traffic regulations when he cut to the fast lane along Tai Chung Kiu Road toward Ma On Shan.

Chan sped up when trying to pass other cars, with his bus going at 78 kilometers per hour three seconds before the crash, Pang said, adding it would be impossible for Chan to stop the bus at such a high speed when the accident happened. Pang slammed Chan for neglecting the safety of 55 passengers as a professional driver, especially since most of those on board were young students who needed the protection of adults.

Pang said Chan betrayed the trust of students and parents. He added: "It was not hard to imagine how frightened the students were when they were on the bus."

Pang stressed that it was "just lucky" that the 25 people hurt only suffered minor injuries.

The bus destroyed three traffic lights, a traffic sign and a six-meter-long road fence, causing serious financial damage, Pang said.

Pang said a jail sentence was necessary and set the starting point at six months. He shortened it by one month as Chan is suffering from liver cancer and he has received mitigation letters from students' parents and the school's headmaster.

The defense said Chan sustained serious spine injuries in the accident and had to be hospitalized for a month. He is still suffering from pain from time to time, cannot sit for a long time and finds it hard to sleep.

Chan also has difficulties putting on his clothes and socks and uses crutches. He is also remorseful for his behavior and has a strong sense of guilt, the defense added.

The defense appealed to the court to hand down a suspended sentence. But it was rejected by Pang, who said there was no evidence to show that Chan was facing severe health risks.

Pang added that Chan could receive appropriate treatment provided by the Correctional Services Department.

The court heard that the school bus was traveling at a high speed along Tai Chung Kiu Road in Sha Tin toward 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.

There were 53 primary two students on the bus as well as a nanny. Twenty-three students, the nanny and the private car driver suffered minor injuries and all of them were discharged on the same day.

Chan also suffered from spinal cord injuries. He initially said the brakes failed, but an investigation found that the bus was operating normally. Chan was then arrested for dangerous driving.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com