Minibus Driver Jailed Nine Months Over Fatal Turn
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago4 MIN
Summary
A District Court judge sentenced 68-year-old public light bus driver Leung Kam-sing (梁錦成) to nine months in prison after convicting him of dangerous driving causing death over a fatal collision near the Diamond Hill Public Transport Interchange. He was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to attend a driving improvement course at his own expense.
Key Points
- The charge said Leung dangerously drove a public light bus near lamp post DF4607 on Lung Poon Street, Wong Tai Sin, on August 28, 2024, causing the death of Chan Lai-hung.
- Prosecutors said the crash happened at about 11am when Leung drove northbound on Lung Poon Street and turned right into the interchange entrance
- Another green minibus waiting to turn at the exit blocked his view of the pedestrian crossing, but he still turned right at about 26 km/h, crossed double white lines and struck the woman with the right front of the vehicle.
- An accident investigation report said that if Leung had leaned his head forward to the right two to three seconds before impact, he would have been able to see the victim
- Judge Yiu Fan-chi said the minibus crossed two traffic lanes from the start of the turn to the collision, giving Leung sufficient time and space to observe and avoid the impact.
Why It Matters
The sentence underlines the court's view that fatal dangerous driving cases involving professional drivers can attract immediate jail terms, even where the defendant has a long driving history and limited prior traffic records. For Hong Kong road users, the ruling also reinforces the expectation that drivers must not proceed with a turn when their view of pedestrians is obstructed.