The driver, Pham Thanh Hieu, will be prosecuted forthe charge of violating traffic regulations. He will be put into temporarydetention pending further investigation.
According to a report by the province’s committeefor traffic safety, Hieu’s container truck hit 21 motorbikes waiting at a redlight at Nhut Chanh junction in Ben Luc district, killing three people on thespot and injuring 18 others. One more person died en route to the hospital.
Witnesses said the truck kept driving afterhitting the first few motorbikes and dragged some for about 150m beforestopping.
Hieu tested positive for heroin and alcohol, according to Long An GeneralHospital. The driver left the scene after the accident but then turned himselfin the district police station in the evening of the same day and was taken tothe hospital for testing.
Two examinations were taken three hours part,but both results showed the driver had heroin in his system. The testsalso revealed the driver had high blood alcohol content.
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Chairmanof the National Committee for Traffic Safety, directed the settlement of thedeadly accident. He assigned vice chairman of the committee Khuat Viet Hung togo to the accident site and work with the provincial People’s Committee todetermine the consequences. He also called for support for the families ofthe victims.
On January 3, Hung and the provincialauthorities visited the injured victims who are being treated at Cho RayHospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
Hung said the National Committee for TrafficSafety and Deputy PM Binh asked localities to increase inspections and crackdown on traffic violations, particularly drunken driving. They were told toregularly test drivers, especially truck drivers, for drugs to ensure trafficsafety.-VNA