The scene of the accident.
According to a report from local authorities, the accident occurred at 7.40 pm when the bus carrying 40 passengers crashed into the truck parked on the roadside for repairs. The Cam Lo-La Son Expressway has only two lanes and no emergency lane. It was dark and there were no lights in the section. The bus driver failed to notice the truck as it had no warning lights on.
Vice chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Provincial People's Committee, Hoang Hai Minh, and Deputy Director of the provincial Police Department, Ho Xuan Phuong, visited the accident scene to oversee the rescue work.
"The crash left two passengers on the bus dead on the spot. They were identified as Cut Van Son, 20, and Cut Thi Huong, 17. Nine other passengers were injured.
The Cam Lo-La Son Expressway in the central province of Quang Tri has seen 36 accidents, killing six people and injuring 20 others in the first year it has been open.
Earlier on February 18, three people were also killed in an accident on this expressway.
The VND7.70 trillion project spans over 98 kilometres of hilly terrain, connecting Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces.
Despite having many dangerous curves, the expressway has just two lanes just 12 metres wide and a maximum speed limit of 60 kph.
Only some 15 km of the road has four lanes allowing a maximum speed of 80 kph.
The hilly terrain and narrow lanes have been highlighted as the main reasons for the large number of traffic accidents.
Despite a ban on overtaking on the two-lane overpass, violations still occur. The expressway still lacks surveillance cameras to monitor and penalise offending drivers.
Following the deadly accident on February 18, PM Pham Minh Chinh sent a dispatch to urge concerned ministries and localities to upgrade existing expressways.
