Express bus driver faces charges over highway accident

 

Police said he is still hospitalised. The driver finished a six-hour journey from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw and continued with the return trip without any rest. The bus company, however, insist he was sober and had over 20 years of driving experience. 

“There is no turning around the story, which indicates the driver and his recklessness are responsible for the disaster. We will condemn him effectively,” added Pol Col Nay Win.

The Minister of Home Affairs met with police and bus-line officials on May 13.

On Monday, the Yar Zar Min bus was travelling from Nay Pyi Taw to Yangon when it plunged over a 100-foot bridge after hitting a milestone around 6.45pm. The accident resulted in 14 deaths including three civil servants. 

After a lengthy rescue operation, 27 survivors, including two monks, were hospitalised in Nay Pyi Taw. Three remain in critical condition.

According to police investigators, the driver was responsible for the accident as he appeared to be driving too fast in a downpour before hitting milestone 197/6 and plunging head-first off the bridge. 

“There was downpour at the time of the accident. It would not have happened if the driver drove at 40 miles per hour. We assume he was driving at 80 miles per hour. We suspect that the bus was racing on the side of the lane for a long distance before the accident,” said Police Colonel Nay Win.

The Yar Zar Min bus company has promised to provide Ks 1.5 million (US$1,500) in compensation to those who have died, Ks 3 million (US$3,000) for life insurance and Ks 1 million (US$1,000) for overall insurance. 

The Ministry of Finance has also pledged to grant Ks 6 million (US$6,000) in compensation to the families of the deceased, and has also promised to take good care of those still in hospital.

One of the survivors said, “I’m now being treated at the orthopaedic ward, and I do not want to recall the scene. I am just a manual labourer, so I am at ease if someone looks after [me] and takes care of the medical expenses.”

The deaths included Myo Naing, who was deputy director of Cane Ball practising department, Dr. Win Zaw who was head of Thamine National Rehabilitation Hospital and Yi Yi Cho, a staff member at No 1 Electric Power.

The value of the destroyed vehicle was worth Ks 60 million (US$60,000) and the damage to the milestone is estimated to be Ks 1 million (US$1,000), including the road railing and barrier. 

“Immediately after the accident was reported, officials from Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon Yar Zar Min bus depots rushed to the scene to provide necessary aid. We have heard one of the two drivers is hurt and a bus conductor died,” said U Cho, the manager of Yangon Yar Zar Min bus depot. “The driver was sober and recently entered the monkhood. He had been working for our bus line for a decade. The crashed bus was bought from China and have only been in use for one year,” added the manager.