Police are investigating after two men attempting to evade a police motorcycle died when their vehicle hit several other cars and then overturned on Sunday evening.
The crash on Fanling Highway left at least four people injured, while the emergence of dash cam footage of the incident has also raised questions about whether the officers had inappropriately put other motorists in harm’s way by slowing traffic in an attempt to block the fleeing vehicle, Apple Daily reported.
According to the newspaper, the pursuit began about 5pm after a seven-seater car was spotted changing lanes recklessly and cutting in front of other vehicles at high speed on San Tin Highway.
Officers attempted to pull over the car, but gave chase as the vehicle sped off.
According to a statement released by police this morning, the driver was traveling along Fanling Highway towards Tai Po, then lost control of his car when he was near the Dawning Views residential estate in Fanling.
He collided with three other private cars and a police motorcycle, then overturned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE2nu2LWf1A
Apple Daily reported the driver was a 37-year-old man surnamed Chung, and his passenger was a 26-year-old man surnamed Cheung.
Chung was pronounced dead at the scene, while Cheung was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in an unconscious state and later declared dead at 6:47pm.
The newspaper reported that Chung’s original license had been suspended in 2011 after multiple traffic offenses, and that at the time of the incident he held only a probationary license, which prohibits him from driving with a passenger.
Local media reported that five people — four male and one female — were injured. However, the police statement mentioned that four individuals — a police officer, a 32-year-old male driver and his 31-year-old female passenger, and a 68-year-old male driver — were sent to North District Hospital with minor injuries.
After dash cam footage of the incident appeared online, observers began questioning whether the officers had endangered other drivers on the road by telling cars ahead of the chase to slow down.
Responding to that suggestion at a press conference, Chief Inspector Ip Kwok-wai from the New Territories North police traffic unit would only say that police were attempting to “ensure public safety” given the suspects’ car was driving at high speed.
He said the officer on the motorcycle who can be seen on the dash cam video signaling to drivers to slow down was acting according to the police guidelines.
A second dash cam video also appeared online showing the vehicle being pursued by a police motorcycle, prompting some netizens to question whether the pursuit was necessary given its consequences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsAUtLlM5os
Reader Interactions