The minibus driver who died in a fatal crash at Shing Mun Tunnel Road yesterday morning passed out at the wheel before the violent collision that killed him, according to passengers who were on the bus.
Passengers told local newspaper Sing Tao that they witnessed driver Lo Juk-sing, 67, lose consciousness just seconds before his 403 minibus went out of control, collided with the stanchion of a freeway sign, then flipped onto its side.
Dash cam footage posted yesterday by Apple Daily shows the vehicle run head-on into the sign, seemingly without slowing down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk2BRrBeVfY
Lo was extricated from the demolished front of the vehicle, but declared dead a few hours later. His 16 passengers managed to escape with minor injuries.
Lo had been a minibus driver since 2005 and began driving the 403 route from Kwai Tsing to Sha Tin two years ago. His employers told Sing Tao that Lo mentioned no long-term illnesses or required medication in his annual health check-up.
But the outlet cited unnamed sources in alleging that Lo suffered from high blood pressure, was a smoker, and had been recovering from the flu just days before the crash.
On.cc also spoke to Lo’s colleagues, who confirmed that the day of the deadly crash was his first day back at work since taking some time off.
Police are still investigating, and confirmed that they found a bottle of cough medicine in the glove compartment of Lo’s vehicle, but added that it’s not clear if this was medicine he had taken prior to the crash.
Officers confirmed that, after a preliminary investigation, they had found no skid marks on the road from the brakes, and could find no mechanical faults in the vehicle. All of which, of course, lends weight to the idea that he lost consciousness.
The incident has put a spotlight on whether or not there should be an age limit for the city’s minibus drivers.
Chan Man-chun — spokesperson for the Hong Kong Scheduled (GMB) Licensee Association, which represents the city’s green minibuses — told HK01 that an internal survey found that about 70 percent of Hong Kong’s minibus drivers are at least 60-years-old.
He explained that the chronic shortage of minibus drivers is partly because young people don’t want to enter the industry, and that many young drivers would prefer to drive for ride-hailing app Uber or van-hire service GoGoVan.
According to the Transport Department (TD), there are just over 1,000 red minibuses, and just over 3,290 green ones (which much more specific routes) operating in Hong Kong.
In a separate interview with Ming Pao this morning, Chan said minibus drivers only need to fill out a health declaration form rather than submitting an official medical report, adding that this kind of system can result in some older drivers hiding medical conditions from employers.
Under the Road Traffic Ordinance, those aged 70 and above who want to renew their driver’s license need to undergo a physical examination to determine whether or not they are still fit to drive.
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