KMB Bus Passenger Found Dead After Overnight on Upper Deck; Coroner's Inquest Begins
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A 33-year-old man died after being discovered unconscious on the upper deck of a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) route 61M in Tuen Mun on March 6, 2025. Kwan Chong-man, 33, boarded the bus at around 1:00 AM but was only found at approximately 7:00 AM when a passenger on the first morning run alerted the driver. He was pronounced dead at Tuen Mun Hospital. The coroner's inquest commenced on September 24, with testimony revealing systemic failures in overnight bus checks.
Key Points
- Victim Kwan Chong-man boarded KMB route 61M at approximately 1:00 AM on March 6, 2025, and was found unconscious on the upper deck around 7:00 AM
- The night-shift driver Lui Chi-keung returned the bus to the depot without checking the upper deck, then resigned after a two-month suspension
- Morning-shift driver Chan Wing-kit found Kwan sitting in the third row from the rear with head drooping and eyes closed, unresponsive to tapping
- The emergency doctor noted body temperature of 27.5°C, dilated pupils, rigor mortis, lividity, and brown vomit near the nostrils and mouth
- Engineering staff testified that buses are not cleaned every night unless complaints are received, and the victim's bus was not cleaned that night
- The five-member jury (three men, two women) presided over by Coroner Tsang Hing-tung will examine whether adequate safety protocols existed
Why It Matters
The inquest exposes potential gaps in KMB's overnight bus security protocols, as no clear guidelines appear to require drivers to check for passengers before returning vehicles to the depot . The outcome could prompt the bus company and transport authorities to establish mandatory procedures for securing empty buses, particularly on routes serving late-night passengers who may fall asleep onboard.
The inquest exposes potential gaps in KMB's overnight bus security protocols, as no clear guidelines appear to require drivers to check for passengers before returning vehicles to the depot . The outcome could prompt the bus company and transport authorities to establish mandatory procedures for securing empty buses, particularly on routes serving late-night passengers who may fall asleep onboard.