Chinese driver detained after fatal Primorye bus accident

Primorye police have detained a Chinese citizen who was driving a car carrier and crashed into a tourist bus in the Khasan district. This was reported by the press service of the regional police department.

The horrific accident involving at least six vehicles occurred on the evening of January 22 near the village of Barabash. Presumably, the King Lion bus was carrying tourists from China, and at the 56th kilometer from Ussuriysk towards the Kraskino border crossing, it was hit by an empty car carrier of the FAW Jiefang brand, leading to a collision with four other cars. There were at least 14 people on the bus, three of whom, including the driver and a passenger, died. Five more were injured.

It was later revealed that the heavy truck was driven by a 38-year-old resident of China with 6 years of driving experience. Presumably, the trailer of the vehicle skidded into the oncoming lane, and he lost control.

The investigative unit of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs department in the Khasan district has initiated a criminal case on charges of violating traffic rules and vehicle operation, resulting in the negligent death of two or more people (Part 5 of Article 265 of the Russian Criminal Code). The Chinese citizen was detained as a suspect in the case.

On the morning of January 23, employees of the Ministry of Health and specialists decided to transport victims of the accident who were in serious condition at the Khasan district hospital to one of the hospitals in Vladivostok. Another patient is under observation at the «Tysyachokoechnaya» hospital.