The serious traffic accident between a truck and an Innova reversing on the Hanoi – Thai Nguyen highway in 2016 shocked public opinion. This was not only due to the particularly severe consequences with 5 fatalities, but also the legal controversies and profound lessons about traffic participation awareness. The People’s Court of Pho Yen town (Thai Nguyen province) delivered the final verdict after a lengthy investigation and trial, closing a painful case while raising many issues for reflection.
Defendant Le Ngoc Hoang (truck driver) at the court session on February 14 – Photo: DANH TRỌNG
Court Verdict: Who Was Really at Fault?
On February 14th, the People’s Court of Pho Yen town sentenced two defendants, Ngo Van Son (Innova driver) and Le Ngoc Hoang (truck driver), for “Violating regulations on road traffic control.” Ngo Van Son received a 9-year prison sentence, while Le Ngoc Hoang received a 4-year and 6-month prison sentence. In addition to criminal liability, both drivers had to jointly compensate the victims’ families a total of over 1.5 billion VND.
This first-instance judgment affirmed that both drivers were at fault for the accident. Although defendant Hoang consistently pleaded not guilty and did not admit to the crime, the court had sufficient grounds to determine that the truck driver violated speed regulations while driving on the highway. Specifically, Hoang did not reduce speed when encountering the “slow down” warning sign.
Conversely, the fault of Innova driver Ngo Van Son was particularly serious. Son drove the Innova carrying more people than allowed, reversed on the Hanoi – Thai Nguyen highway, and notably, had a blood alcohol content exceeding the permitted level. Son’s actions were assessed as directly causing a dangerous situation, leading to an unavoidable collision with the truck.
Controversy Over Speed and the “Slow Down” Sign
During the court debate, the defense lawyer for driver Le Ngoc Hoang presented many sharp arguments to mitigate the responsibility of his client. Lawyer Giang Hong Thanh emphasized that Hoang’s truck was moving at a speed of 62km/h, complying with the minimum speed regulation of 60km/h on the Hanoi – Thai Nguyen highway (maximum speed 100km/h).
Defendant Ngo Van Son (Innova driver) at court – Photo: DANH TRỌNG
Lawyer Thanh refuted the VKS’s accusation that Hoang did not reduce speed when encountering the “slow down” sign. According to the lawyer, this sign was only effective for vehicles preparing to exit the highway to turn into the Yen Binh intersection, not applicable to Hoang’s vehicle traveling straight on the highway. Furthermore, the lawyer argued that the Innova reversing in a lane not intended for emergency stopping was the main cause of the accident. If the Innova had not engaged in dangerous reversing, then even if the truck had been moving at a speed higher than 62km/h, the accident might not have occurred. From there, the lawyer proposed considering exempting driver Le Ngoc Hoang from criminal responsibility, considering the incident an unforeseen event.
Valuable Lessons from the Truck-Innova Accident
The “truck-Innova crash” was not just a common criminal case, but also a wake-up call about the awareness and responsibility of traffic participants, especially on highways. Many factors contributed to this tragedy, from the reckless driving of the Innova driver (reversing, drunk driving, carrying too many people) to the truck driver being somewhat subjective in not reducing speed to an absolutely safe level in potentially risky traffic conditions.
Overview of the court session for the truck-container collision with Innova reversing on the highway – Photo: DANH TRỌNG
This case shows that on highways, every violation of traffic laws, even the smallest, can lead to unpredictable consequences. Adhering to speed limits, maintaining a safe distance, and absolutely not using stimulants while driving are vital principles. At the same time, raising awareness of law compliance, yielding, and respecting each other among traffic participants are key factors to minimize accidents and build a safer traffic environment. “Truck-Innova crash” is a painful lesson, reminding us of the value of caution and responsibility behind the wheel.
