The sleeper bus overturned on Highway 19 Gia Lai, 1 person died, 20 were injured

Gia Lai A sleeper car carrying 33 people overturned on the Highway 19 bypass during the rain, causing one person to die and 20 people to be taken to the emergency hospital on the morning of August 31.

At about 3:10 a.m., a passenger car with Ho Chi Minh City license plate driven by driver Nguyen Canh Ha Long, 33 years old, residing in An Khe ward, drove on the bypass of Highway 19 in the direction of Ham Rong - Quy Nhon. When passing through Hoi Phu ward, the car lost control and flipped onto the sidewalk.

At the time of the accident, there were 33 people in the car. One person died at the scene, many passengers were injured (initial information was that 3 people died). Authorities and residents organized rescues and took the victims to the hospital.

Doctor Bui Truong Giang, Deputy Director of Hung Vuong Gia Lai Hospital, said that around 3:40 a.m. the unit received 20 people involved in the accident.

Of these, 15 people with skin abrasions have been discharged from the hospital; Two cases of broken legs were put in casts, two people with soft tissue injuries continued to be treated. A patient with a spinal injury was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, for intensive treatment.

At the scene, the flat bed car flipped on its right side down the slope, its body lying along the edge of the road, next to the drainage ditch and garden. Passengers' belongings and some debris were scattered around the car. During the rescue, the rain was still falling, and the fog caused limited visibility on the road and water on the road surface. A large crane was brought in, the authorities stretched ropes, and organized to lift the vehicle from the accident position.

Leaders of Hoi Phu ward said that when the accident occurred, it was raining and the road surface was slippery. The specific cause is being investigated by authorities.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Traffic Police Department, quick test results showed that this person had no alcohol concentration and tested negative for drugs. The driver has a class D driving license; Passenger cars have an inspection period until December 2027.

The accident car was operating on a fixed route, departing from the old Mien Dong bus station, Ho Chi Minh City, to An Khe bus station, Gia Lai, at 5:25 p.m. yesterday. A representative of the old Mien Dong bus station said that this vehicle was used by the bus company to carry more passengers during the National Day holiday.

Highway 19 is an important East-West traffic axis, connecting the Central Highlands with Quy Nhon and the Central Coast. The bypass route through the Pleiku area helps to channelize transit vehicles, reducing traffic pressure in the central area.