Citybus driver jailed over crash that injured passengers
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A former Citybus driver was sentenced at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on August 28 to six months in jail after being convicted of two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm over a crash on the A22 airport route. The court also disqualified him from driving for three years and ordered him to complete a driving improvement course at his own expense.
Key Points
- Defendant Lau Cheuk-hei, now 24, denied two charges linked to injuries suffered by two passengers surnamed Wong and Wong, but was convicted after trial.
- The crash happened at about 12:24pm on May 1, 2025, when the A22 bus from Lam Tin to the airport struck a crash barrier and water-filled barriers at a highway split.
- Agreed facts said there were 21 passengers on board, more than 20 people were injured, and two victims suffered fractures requiring hospital stays of three and nine days
- Magistrate Mok Tsz-chung said bus CCTV showed Lau rubbing his eyes, covering his face, lowering his head and dozing, indicating extreme fatigue while driving.
- Lau claimed dust had blown into his eyes and that he briefly blacked out, but the magistrate rejected both explanations as unreasonable and implausible.
Why It Matters
The ruling means the driver will serve an immediate custodial sentence and be kept off the road for three years, underscoring the legal consequences when commercial drivers continue operating while fatigued. For Hong Kong passengers, the case also draws attention to the safety risks on long airport-bound routes when a driver is not fit to drive.