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2008 Sai Kung bus crash
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Incident in New Territories, Hong Kong
July 2021
July 2021
March 2024
2008 Sai Kung bus crash WIKINEWS_05_001.jpg Accident scene on 1 May 2008 1 May 2008 09:02 HKT Hiram's Highway roundabout near Nam Pin Wai bus station, Nam Pin Wai, Sai Kung DistrictNew Territories, Hong Kong Rollover 61 19 43
On 1 May 2008, at approximately 09:02 HKT, a tour bus flipped onto its side on Hiram's Highway in Sai Kung District, New Territories. The crash killed 19 people and injured 43.http://www.appleactionews.com/site/art_main.cfm?&iss_id=20080505&sec_id=6996647&art_id=11072677&dis_type=text&media_id=1 西貢旅巴慘劇 增至19人死亡 Sai Kung tour bus tragedy: Death toll rises to 19 May 5, 2008 Next Media 2008-05-05 Next Animation Studio zh-hk 2008-05-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20080508224640/http://www.appleactionews.com/site/art_main.cfm?&iss_id=20080505&sec_id=6996647&art_id=11072677&dis_type=text&media_id=1 dead
The incident was Hong Kong's third deadliest road traffic accident, behind a 2018 incident killing 19 and injuring 61, and a 2003 incident which killed 21.Hong Kong bus overturns, killing at least 19 people https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/10/bus-topples-over-in-hong-kong-tai-po The Guardian Agence-France Presse 10 February 2018
Incident
Crash
On 1 May 2008, at 8:30 am, two tour buses carrying several members of the Shinji Shumeikai Hong Kong branch left from Tsz Wan Shan for Sai Kung. At around 9:02, one of the tour buses rolled over when entering the Hiram's Highway roundabout in Nam Pin Wai. The bus flipped onto its side and struck a noise barrier, causing the roof of the bus to collapse, trapping many passengers between the roof and the seats, and hindering rescue efforts.Lam Anita Bus crash driver to plead guilty South China Morning Post 4 June 2009 1http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/05/02/2003410869 Hong Kong bus crash leaves 18 dead Taipei Times 2008-05-02 2021-07-18
Immediate aftermath
Firefighters arrived after nine minutes,http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20080502/11058558 恐怖車禍專輯 旅巴西貢飛車撞翻 18女友慘死 2008-05-02 Apple Daily Hong Kong zh-hk https://web.archive.org/web/20150927062527/http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20080502/11058558 2015-09-27 and 14 passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. A makeshift morgue was set up, the first time since a bus accident in 2003. Four more passengers died after being transferred to hospital, bringing the death toll to 18. Then-Chief Executive Donald Tsang visited Tseung Kwan O Hospital, where the largest amount of injured passengers were transferred, then visited the crash site. He expressed that this was Hong Kong's most serious traffic accident in recent years, and asked for all relevant departments to investigate the causes of this accident, as well as provide help for all affected families.http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080501/60/2tbbd.html 曾蔭權形容為近年最嚴重車禍 Donald Tsang describes (the crash) as the most serious traffic accident in recent years 2008-05-01 Sing Tao Daily Hong Kong zh-hk https://web.archive.org/web/20080505204502/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080501/60/2tbbd.html 2008-05-05
Four days after the crash, on 5 May, one more passenger died after being transferred to a hospital, bringing the death toll to a final of 19. Many of the survivors were left with lifelong injuries and disabilities.
Criminal proceedings
The 33-year-old bus captain, Hung Ling-kwok, was charged with dangerous driving causing death. Investigators stated that Hung was travelling around 67 kph, while the speed limit was 50 kph. The bus was found to have no mechanical faults.Fong Loretta Driver in fatal bus crash apologises to victims' families South China Morning Post 6 June 2009 3 The judge in the case criticised Hung for descending the hill in the wrong gear, failing to use the throttle or exhaust brake, and ignoring warning signs including passengers' repeated calls to slow down.Man Joyce Driver jailed for crash that killed 19 South China Morning Post 20 June 2009 1
Hung apologised to the families of the victims in the District Court in June 2009, but the apology was not accepted.
On 1 May 2009, Hung pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death, for which the maximum sentence was five years' imprisonment at the time of the offence. On 19 June 2009, Hung was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, with the maximum sentence being reduced in recognition of his guilty plea. His driving licence was also suspended for three years.http://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20090620/12900714 法官判刑時痛罵罔顧全車乘客安全 罪無可恕 危駕奪19命 司機囚40月 2009-06-20 Apple Daily Hong Kong zh-hk https://web.archive.org/web/20190927094246/http://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20090620/12900714 2019-09-27 However, as his driving licence suspension would take place during the period of his imprisonment, he would be able to drive upon his release.Lam Anita Lee Ada Sai Kung crash relatives demand longer ban for jailed bus driver South China Morning Post 30 June 2009 4
The families of victims, as well as survivors of the crash, called the sentence excessively lenient. They felt that the prison sentence was light, and said that Hung should not be allowed to drive again.Sentence disappoints victims still grappling with their pain South China Morning Post 20 June 2009 1 Hung evaded a longer jail term as new legislation raising the penalty for dangerous driving causing death (to ten years) only came into effect on 4 July 2008, and he was charged under the old law. On 29 June 2009, the victims petitioned the Department of Justice for a review of the sentence.
In response, the Department of Justice applied to the Court of Appeal to review the length of the driving ban.Tsang Phyllis Bid to lengthen disqualification for driver who killed 19 South China Morning Post 7 August 2009 3 On 15 April 2010, the Court of Appeal doubled the driving ban to six years.Tsui Yvonne Driving ban period doubled for bus driver in fatal crash South China Morning Post 16 April 2010 3https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20100416/13934778 旅巴62死傷車禍 律政司成功覆核 危駕司機加刑停牌6年 2010-04-16 Apple Daily Hong Kong zh-hk https://web.archive.org/web/20190930043711/https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20100416/13934778 2019-09-30
See also
2003 Tuen Mun Road bus accident
2018 Hong Kong bus accident
References
Category:Bus incidents in Hong Kong
Category:New Territories
Category:2008 road incidents
Category:May 2008 in China
Category:2008 in Hong Kong