Chinese driver detained over fatal tourist bus crash

A Chinese citizen who crashed into a tourist bus with a car carrier in the Khasansky district of Primorye has been placed in pre-trial detention. He will spend the next 1 month and 28 days in a detention center, according to the regional prosecutor«s office press service.

The accident occurred on the evening of January 22 near the village of Barabash. The King Lion bus was carrying tourists from the Chinese city of Hunchun, and at the 56th kilometer from Ussuriysk in the direction of the Kraskino border crossing, it was hit by an empty car carrier FAW Jiefang, which led to a collision with four other vehicles. 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 Chinese national with 6 years of driving experience. Presumably, the trailer of the vehicle skidded into the oncoming lane, and he lost control, which led to his detention as a suspect in a case of traffic violations that caused the death of two or more persons through negligence (Part 5 of Article 265 of the Russian Criminal Code).

The petition to place the foreigner in custody was supported by Khasansky District Prosecutor Denis Kreinovich.

On the morning of January 23, Health Ministry employees and specialists decided to transport to one of the hospitals in Vladivostok citizens injured in the accident who were in serious condition at the Khasansky District Hospital. Another patient is under observation at the Tysoyakochinnaya hospital.

First Deputy Governor of Primorye Territory Vera Shcherbina said that the families of those killed in the accident in the Khasansky district will receive financial assistance. By order of Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, they will receive 300 thousand rubles (approximately $3,200 at current rates) each.

We have analyzed and detailed the route of the bus involved in the accident in a separate article.