Dozens hurt in Tuen Mun Road smashup

More than 40 people were injured, one seriously, after a double-decker bus rear-ended a parked crane lorry on the side of Tuen Mun Road yesterday.

The bus driver was trapped in his seat and had to be rescued by firemen. He reportedly could not brake in time. No one has been arrested yet.

Fire Services Department's Tuen Mun ambulance depot commander Vincent Tam Ngo-yin said 43 people were injured, including the bus driver, surnamed Sin, 57, and the lorry driver, who was carrying four passengers aged between 16 and 88 years old.

"One passenger sitting at the back of the bus on the lower deck was seriously injured in his head and neck, while five passengers suffered from bone fractures or facial injuries," Tam said. "And 37 sustained minor injuries and left by themselves."

Eight of the injured were taken to Tuen Mun Hospital while 11 were taken to Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan, 14 to Tin Shui Wai Hospital, and 10 to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung.

One of the passengers, Lam, was seen bleeding from the corner of his eye and his nose while being treated by paramedics at the scene.

"I felt a hard brake before the collision. I sat at the very back of the bus, near the emergency exit. I was sent hurtling forward at the time of the collision and I hit myself hard on the seat in front," Lam said.

The department's senior station officer Kenneth Liu Pak-him said rescuers arrived at the scene after eight minutes and deployed 13 fire engines, 25 ambulances, 60 firefighters, and 55 ambulance men.

"We found a lot of injured persons at the scene," he said, adding that the firemen took around 20 minutes to rescue all of them.

Superintendent Lam Chi-yuen of the New Territories North Traffic Investigation and Support Division said the crane lorry broke down and had to stop on the side of the highway near Siu Lam in Tuen Mun. But its hazard lights were turned on.

Shortly afterward, the double-decker bus on route 58M, between Tuen Mun and Kwai Fong rammed into the back of the crane lorry.

"Upon preliminary investigation, we found out that the bus driver had a day off on Saturday and started work at around 4am to 5am [yesterday]. He was estimated to be on his fourth round-trip of the day. We are still verifying with the bus company," Lam Chi-yuen said.

Police are looking into the cause of the accident, including the bus drivers' mental conditions, according to Lam.

He asked witnesses to come forward and contact investigating officers at 3661-8000.

The government has set up an interdepartmental help desk at the accident and emergency departments of the four hospitals in response to the traffic accident.

KMB has also sent staff to the hospitals to support victims and added it will cooperate with the police investigation.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.comom