71-Year-Old Tour Bus Driver Collapses, Dies in Shing Mun Tunnel Crash
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 71-year-old tour bus driver collapsed and died while transporting 47 young children through Shing Mun Tunnel on September 12 afternoon, leading to a crash captured on dashcam. The bus struck a concrete barrier within seconds of entering the tunnel and continued scraping forward for several hundred meters, emitting smoke. Despite emergency response, the driver was pronounced dead at Yan Chai Hospital. A 50-year-old female supervisor sustained a minor hand injury, while all children escaped unharmed.
Key Points
- The incident occurred around 3:16-3:24 PM on September 12 in the Shing Mun Tunnel tube heading toward Tsuen Wan
- The bus driver, surname Lam (Lin), 71, had undergone cardiac angioplasty surgery several years prior and maintained a healthy lifestyle without smoking or drinking
- Dashcam footage shows the tour bus entering the tunnel, striking the left-side barrier within five seconds, and scraping forward for several hundred meters with smoke trailing behind
- Emergency services responded and found the driver unconscious; he was sent to Yan Chai Hospital where he was declared dead at 5:13 PM
- The bus was carrying 47 kindergarten or primary school students from Fo Tan, traveling the Sha Tin-to-Tsing Yi route via Shing Mun Tunnel
Why It Matters
This incident has reignited debates about medical screening requirements for commercial vehicle drivers aged 70 and above. The government had previously proposed lowering the mandatory medical examination age from 70 to 65 and implementing stricter renewal policies . For Hong Kong parents, the narrow escape of all 47 children raises questions about the adequacy of safety protocols for student transportation services.
This incident has reignited debates about medical screening requirements for commercial vehicle drivers aged 70 and above. The government had previously proposed lowering the mandatory medical examination age from 70 to 65 and implementing stricter renewal policies . For Hong Kong parents, the narrow escape of all 47 children raises questions about the adequacy of safety protocols for student transportation services.