Five people were killed and 32 injured when a coach carrying Cathay Pacific staff to Hong Kong´s airport collided with a taxi on Friday, police said, with passengers thrown from the coach´s windows on impact.
The back half of the taxi was completely crushed and both sides of the bus were damaged with traces of blood on the outside following the crash on the island of Tsing Yi.
“We believe the taxi was broken down and stopped on the left lane of the road. Around 40 seconds later, a coach hit it from behind,” police superintendent Yip Siu-ming said. The coach then lost control, Yip added, hitting the right hand side crash barrier and then the left one and throwing three passengers out of the coach. The 62-year-old driver was also hurled from the vehicle and injured.
The taxi driver and two men and two women coach passengers were killed, according to police.
Debris including glass and personal belongings was strewn across the road, which remained closed early Friday.
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific confirmed “a shuttle bus carrying our employees was involved in a traffic accident this morning”.“It is a tragic and very sad incident. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who have sadly passed away,” the airline said.
Superintendent Yip said police would look into whether the coach driver who had been working for 10 hours at the time of the accident — had been tired or affected by alcohol.
“From what we can see, it´s obvious that the driver did not see the broken-down taxi on the road and hit it from behind,” Yip said, adding that his working hours were from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.
Tsing Yi is connected by a freeway to Hong Kong International Airport which is located on neighbouring Lantau island.
