A truck crashes into a banana market in Quang Tri Province, killing at least three people and injuring seven others on September 17.
The crash, which occurred at 7.45 am near Tan Long Market in Lao Bao Commune, also injured nine others, including three in critical condition.
Truck driver Tran Minh Hoang, 52, told police that he lost control after the vehicle’s brakes failed while travelling along National Highway 9 from Dong Ha towards the Lao Bao Border Gate. In an attempt to avoid oncoming traffic, he steered onto Provincial Road 586, but the truck, moving at high speed, ploughed into traders and vehicles at the roadside banana market.
The scene of the accident
The victims killed at the scene were a 20-year-old Lao woman who was pregnant, a 24-year-old Lao and a 25-year-old Vietnamese man. The nine Vietnamese injured were taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
Provincial leaders and Major General Nguyen Thanh Liem, director of Quang Tri Police, arrived at the scene shortly after the accident to oversee the investigation.
Initial tests showed the driver and his assistant were negative for both drugs and alcohol.
The roadside market lies at a T-junction which sees heavy traffic. Although there have been warnings about traffic safety, many banana traders from Lao and Vietnam have still gathered in the area.
