On October 1, 2014, a serious traffic accident occurred in Dak Lak when a truck collided with a sleeper bus, resulting in 2 fatalities and 11 injuries. Drug tests revealed that the truck driver was positive for drug use.
Horrific Accident on National Highway 14
The accident took place at approximately 4:30 PM on October 1, 2014, on National Highway 14, passing through Ea H’leo commune, Ea H’leo district, Dak Lak province. A 16-seater passenger van with license plate 47B-00488, driven by Mr. Tran The Nam, was carrying 10 passengers from Gia Lai to Dak Lak. While overtaking another passenger vehicle traveling in the same direction, Mr. Nam’s vehicle collided with a motorbike driven by Mr. Vo Trung Truc, carrying his wife, Mrs. Bui Thi Hanh, traveling in the opposite direction.
The powerful impact caused Mr. Truc and Mrs. Hanh to die instantly at the scene. The passenger van subsequently overturned twice, ejecting 11 people from the vehicle, causing serious injuries.
Bus Driver Tests Positive for Drugs
On October 2, 2014, Dak Lak Provincial General Hospital announced that driver Tran The Nam’s urine test results were positive for drug use. Mr. Nam suffered a traumatic brain injury and fell into a deep coma.
Numerous Other Serious Traffic Accidents
On the same day, October 3, 2014, news outlets reported on several other serious traffic accidents across the country:
- In Quang Ninh, a government-owned car struck and killed a person before crashing into a residential house.
- In Dong Nai, a sleeper bus mounted a traffic divider, causing 4 people to be hospitalized.
- In Thua Thien Hue, a dump truck driver who caused a fatal accident was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
- In Lao Cai, a passenger bus driver who caused an accident resulting in 8 deaths was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Stronger Measures Needed to Address Traffic Violations
The continuous occurrence of traffic accidents indicates that violations of road traffic laws remain complex. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless overtaking, and non-compliance with traffic regulations are leading causes of accidents.
Stronger measures are needed to strictly handle violations, raise awareness among road users, and contribute to reducing traffic accidents, protecting lives and property. Some proposed solutions include: criminalizing drunk driving causing accidents, increasing penalties, and equipping traffic police with more breathalyzers.
