The courageous act of a truck driver saving a runaway bus on Bao Loc Pass has become a widely spread story, praising his heroic deed and high sense of responsibility. Phan Van Bac, the hero in this incident, has been recommended for commendation by the Lam Dong Provincial Traffic Police Department (PC67) for his courageous act of saving lives.
At around 2:30 PM on September 6th, on National Highway 20, passing through Dam Ri town, Da Hoai district, Lam Dong, Phan Van Bac (30 years old) was driving a truck in the direction of Bao Loc to Ho Chi Minh City. When reaching the end of Bao Loc Pass, he noticed a 42-seater bus of Tan Ha Trading and Transportation Services Co., Ltd., driven by driver Toan (40 years old), showing signs of losing control and speeding down the slope.
Realizing the dangerous situation, driver Bac quickly made a bold and decisive decision. He proactively reduced the speed of his truck, drove slowly, and signaled for the bus to crash into the rear of his truck. This action aimed to use the truck as an obstacle, slowing down the runaway bus and preventing the risk of the bus plunging into the abyss or causing a catastrophic accident.
Damaged truck after saving the bus
After the collision, driver Bac continued to maintain control, both driving the truck and braking gradually to guide the out-of-control bus down the pass. The distance of guiding the vehicle lasted about 1km, a not insignificant distance in an extremely dangerous situation. Only when he reached the bottom of the pass could Bac safely stop the vehicle in a flat position.
The strong collision caused severe damage to the front of the bus and the rear of the truck. However, miraculously, all passengers and the bus driver were completely safe. At the time of the bus accident, there were about 30 passengers on board, and without the courageous action of driver Bac, the consequences would have been extremely tragic.
According to information from PC67, the moment the bus lost its brakes was when the vehicle was descending the slope at its highest speed. The end of Bao Loc Pass is known for its steepness and danger, and without timely handling, an accident was inevitable.
In a phone conversation, driver Phan Van Bac was still in shock when recalling the life-and-death moment. He shared: “When I saw people on the bus screaming, I knew something was wrong. When the two vehicles collided, I also lost my mind but tried to stay calm and guide the bus to a stop. Seeing the two vehicles heavily damaged, I was also scared, but fortunately, everyone was safe.” Mr. Bac’s truck is currently being held by the police for investigation and clarification of the incident.
Phan Van Bac, the truck driver hero
The courageous action of driver Phan Van Bac not only saved dozens of lives but also spread a meaningful message about the spirit of mutual love and community responsibility. This is a clear demonstration of the courage and professionalism of truck drivers, who always face many risks on the roads. This truck-saves-bus incident deserves to be recognized and widely publicized to spread beautiful actions in society.
