19 Dead, 65 Injured in Hong Kong Bus Crash

In the deadliest accident to occur on Hong Kong roads since 2003, a double-decker bus crash yesterday evening killed 19 and injured 65 more, Channel NewsAsia reported.

The accident happened in a rural area in Hong Kong's New Territories, near the town of Tai Po. The bus was en route from Sha Tin to Tai Po Center when it overturned and apparently hit a lamppost.

A press release from Hong Kong authorities today revealed that 18 perished at the scene of the accident. 66 injured people were sent to hospitals for treatment, and one man died afterwards.

Fire department employee Chan Hing-yu told reporters that most casualties occurred on the upper deck of the bus.

READ MORE: 8 Dead After Terrifying Road Collapse in South China

Senior traffic superintendent Lee Chi-wai said that the driver is suspected of speeding down a slope and subsequently losing control of the bus. The man was sober and didn't require medical treatment after the crash.

Some of the injured told Apple Daily that the driver had been 10 minutes late and began driving faster after passengers complained.

The government press release stated that last evening the "30-year old male bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. He is still being detained for further enquiries."

See post-accident footage below (VPN off):

Since the crash, Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting has brought up the danger of double-decker bus design, which may be "posing a serious threat to passengers on the upper level." He also called for action on the issue of Hong Kong drivers working too many hours.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has promised an independent panel will investigate safety in public transportation, with a focus on buses, according to the New York Times.

In 2003, 21 died in a horrific accident after a double-decker bus collided with a truck and fell off a bridge. And last September, a Hong Kong bus driver who had worked 13-hour shifts for several days in a row crashed, killing three.

[Images via Apple Daily h/t AP]