Bus driver charged over fatal crash as Hong Kong cancels Lunar New Year fireworks

Chief Executive Carrie Lam calls decision to do away with fireworks display an ‘expression of citywide mourning’

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Officers from the Transport Department on Monday inspect the bus involved in the crash. Photo: David Wong

Ernest Kao,Cannix Yau,Elizabeth CheungandRaymond Yeung

Published: 6:30pm, 12 Feb 2018Updated: 3:07pm, 17 Apr 2018

Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year fireworks set for this Saturday have been called off out of respect for the victims of the city’s deadliest traffic accident in more than a decade, as the driver was on Monday night charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the cancellation as donations to the 84 families affected by the tragedy doubled to HK$42.5 million. Meanwhile a judge-led inquiry into the incident was endorsed by the city’s top judge.

Hong Kong bus passengers furious with driver moments after deadly crash, witness claims

Police on Monday night pressed a charge of causing death by dangerous driving against the 30-year-old KMB bus driver. He was expected to appear at Fanling Court on Tuesday.

Nineteen people died and 66 others were injured on Saturday when a KMB double-decker travelling from Sha Tin racecourse towards Tai Po suddenly swerved out of control and flipped on its side while making a turn near Tai Po Mei.

Six people were still in hospital in critical condition on Monday evening.

President Xi Jinping expressed “condolences and sympathy” to the families of the victims on Monday night. He instructed the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong to convey to the chief executive his sadness over the deaths and injuries, Xinhua reported.