A reckless driver crashed into at least 20 vehicles while driving at high-speeds at around 5:30pm on March 10.
The car hit motorbikes and bicycles on the road with over a length of 200 metres causing numerous injuries at the road junction of Xuan Thuy, Ho Tung Mau and Pham Hung in Hanoi.
According to witnesses, it was a black Ford Mondeo V6 with plate number of 29X-9620. It was being driven at a very high speed and laid-out a series of vehicles and people to the pavement.
Victims vehicles being transported to the police station
Victim Pham Ngoc Tien, living at Hoang Mai District, reported that, “When I passed by the National University of Hanoi, I saw this car stopped by the road. The driver was resolving an accident with some people. After a while, I heard the screeching sound of his brake, and then I turned around and his car was near me.”
“The car hit a motorbike and a bicycle behind me then my vehicle. The collision was so strong that the rim of my wheel was broken. My motorbike was forced to the ground and I flew off the bike,” added Tien, “After that the car continued moving ahead with at a very high speed. It was like the scene in an action movie, the streets were very crowded and this car kept crashing into vehicles. The car hit a bicycle and it got stuck on the hood of the car and was dragged along the road.”
After hitting many other vehicles, the car finally stopped at Ho Tung Mau road. All victims were taken to hospital 198 for emergency treatment. Initial information revealed that there are over 20 injuries, out of which 3 were serious. Most of them are students.
Traffic congestion on Xuan Thuy road after the accident
The accident occurred during rush hour and caused major traffic congestion at the site.
When the transport police arrived, there were a lot of broken vehicles and victims lying along the road.
The car driver is Le Van Manh, born in 1944 at Group 54, Van Chuong Ward, Dong Da District in Hanoi. He now resides at Ngoa Long Hamlet, Minh Khai Commune, Tu Liem District, Hanoi.
According to Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Me, Leader of the Transport Police Team No 6, Manh borrowed the car from his brother in-law. Despite having a driver's license and experience, it was the first time he had driven an automatic transmission vehicle. After driving 200 metres, he was forced to use his emergency brake to stop the car.
Authorities are further investigating the incident.
