In the early hours of June 19, a serious accident occurred at Km 46+100 on the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway, in Thang Binh District, Quang Nam Province, heading north to south.

At the time, a passenger bus with license plate 15H-098.XX driven by Pham D.T. (born 1976) crashed into the rear of a semi-truck with license plate 29H-928.XX and trailer 29RM-000.XX, which was parked in the emergency lane and operated by Le X.H. (born 1981).

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Scene of the traffic accident on the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway. Photo: Police provided

So far, the accident has resulted in two fatalities at the scene: the bus driver Pham D.T. and the bus assistant Nguyen V.T. Sixteen others were injured and taken to Quang Nam General Hospital. Both vehicles were severely damaged.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck driver violated expressway regulations regarding stopping and parking: the vehicle was not parked close to the edge of the road and lacked legally required warning signs as stipulated by the Road Traffic Law.

The driver admitted that he stopped the vehicle halfway between the traffic lane and emergency lane to sleep due to fatigue. Although he turned on the hazard lights, he did not place any warning triangle or signs behind the vehicle.

This is not the first time such a severe accident has been caused by vehicles stopping on the expressway without adequate warning.

At around 7:40 p.m. on March 10, 2024, a passenger bus with license plate 51B-261.XX heading north to south crashed into a stationary truck with license plate 75C-016.XX at Km 58 on the Cam Lo - La Son Expressway (Phong Son Commune, Phong Dien District, Thua Thien Hue Province). That crash left two people dead and nine bus passengers injured.

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A damaged vehicle occupies part of the road without placing warning signs. Photo: Quang Thanh

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The 16-seat passenger bus was severely deformed after the crash. Photo: Police provided

Authorities concluded that the crash was caused by the bus driver’s lack of attention and the truck driver’s failure to place warning signs, even though the truck was parked partially on the roadway.

Another tragic accident happened at dawn on October 31, 2023, when a 16-seat passenger bus with license plate 14B-036.XX was traveling on National Route 1A in Huu Lung District, Lang Son Province. It collided with a parked semi-truck (plate 98C-016.XX and trailer 98R-013.XX). The bus then crashed into another truck ahead with plate 77H-041.XX and trailer 77R-046.XX.

The crash left five dead and 11 injured. It was determined that the truck with plate 98C-016.XX had broken down and was parked with only a tree branch placed 16 meters behind as a makeshift warning. The area was unlit and located on a curve, making it difficult for the bus driver to see the obstruction in time.

Dinh Hieu