HCMC – A coach carrying 23 people overturned on Khanh Le Pass en route from Dalat to Nha Trang yesterday, leaving four Chinese dead and nine others injured.
In addition to driver Ho Ngoc Hung, who resides in District 1, HCMC, and two tour guides, the bus was transporting 20 Chinese guests to the south-central beach city of Nha Trang after a visit to the hilly city of Dalat.
While traveling on the 30km Khanh Le Pass on National Highway 27C in Son Thai Commune, Khanh Vinh District, the coach overturned.
Traffic police and rescuers arrived at the scene promptly to assist the injured and rushed them to Khanh Hoa General Hospital for treatment.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered an investigation into the accident to determine its cause.
According to Nguyen Van Dan, director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Transport, the driver tested negative for alcohol and banned substances, and the vehicle was still roadworthy. The traffic police will analyze data from the coach’s black box to determine the cause of the accident.
Khanh Hoa General Hospital reported that they received 10 victims from the accident, and that they were in stable condition.
The Chinese Consulate General in HCMC and the HCMC Department of Foreign Affairs have been notified about the accident.
Khanh Le Pass, whose peak is 1,700 meters above sea level, connects the cities of Nha Trang and Dalat. Known for its narrow bends, high cliffs, and abysses, the pass has been the site of several road accidents in the past.
