Regarding the passenger car falling into a ravine on National Highway 19, passing through An Khe pass (Binh Khe commune, Gia Lai) causing 1 death and 2 injuries, on the afternoon of May 11, leaders of Gia Lai Provincial Police said that immediately after receiving the news, the Investigation Police Agency of the Provincial Police examined the scene, worked with the truck and passenger car drivers to investigate and clarify the cause of the accident.
As Lao Dong newspaper reported, at about 11:15 pm on May 10, a truck with license plate 77H-003. 62 driven by Nguyen Thanh Yen (born 1982, residing in An Khe ward, Gia Lai province) was traveling in the direction from Pleiku to Quy Nhon.
When going down An Khe Pass, the truck suddenly lost its brakes, rushed forward and crashed strongly into the rear of passenger car BKS 50H-059. 48 driven by Pham Thien Tam (born 1998, residing in Ia Lop commune, Dak Lak province), traveling in the same direction in front.
The strong collision caused the passenger car to lose control and plunge into a deep abyss about 30m on National Highway 19.
At the time of the accident, there were 12 people on the passenger car, including the driver and passengers. As a result, Ms. Pham Thi N. (born 1988, residing in Ea Wer commune, Dak Lak province; passenger on the car) died, 2 others were seriously injured and many people suffered scratches and soft tissue injuries.
Victim recounts minutes of passenger car plunging into deep abyss
Currently being treated at Gia Lai Central General Hospital with injuries to her head and knees, Ms. Hoa Thi Phuong (35 years old, residing in Ea Wer commune, Dak Lak) is still in shock when recounting the moment the passenger car plunged into a deep abyss.
According to Ms. Phuong, on the evening of May 10, she took a bus from Dak Lak to the old Quang Nam (now Da Nang City) to work as a hired laborer. At about 11 pm, the bus suddenly shook violently and plunged into the abyss in an instant, causing passengers to not have time to react.
When the car hit the bottom of the abyss, everyone tried to get up and call each other in panic. At that time, Ms. Phuong only saw about 4 people, and many others were unknown where. About 20 minutes later, she was helped out by a man.
Also a passenger on the bus, Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Tram (36 years old, residing in Ea Wer commune, Dak Lak) was hospitalized with neck and thigh injuries.
Recounting the accident in pain, Ms. Tram said that she and 2 friends left Buon Don (Dak Lak) to work in Da Nang City. When the accident happened, she was sleeping.
I only heard a bang and then the car swayed, turned many times into the abyss, the surroundings were dark. Everyone was thrown and hit continuously in the car. My sister who was with me was thrown out of the car and died," Ms. Tram choked up.
According to Dr. Ngo Van Ri - Department of Neurosurgery - Spine of Gia Lai Central General Hospital, through examination and X-rays, the patients did not have serious traumatic brain injury, mainly scratches and soft tissue injuries.
There was a case of numbness and weakness in the neck area. After fitting the spine and checking images, no serious bone or marrow damage was detected.
Currently, patients are mainly treated with pain relief, antibiotics against open wound infection and there have been no cases requiring surgery," Dr. Ri said.
