Bus passengers describe terrifying experiences as some ‘catapulted’ from their seats during impact
A terrifying bus crash on Monday has ended with more than 47 passengers hospitalized, with some passengers saying they saw people ‘catapulted’ from their seats during the impact. They were also forced to remain in their seats to prevent the tilted bus from toppling over after it mounted a barrier.
The accident that happened at 9.43am this morning saw the KMB double-decker on route 290A traveling along Ching Cheung Road when it rammed into an anti-crash barrier, mounted a concrete divider and came to a halt tilted to its right.
The Fire Services Department said 58 passengers were trapped on the upper deck after the crash, while 14 of the 18 passengers on the lower deck jumped out of the rear emergency exit before first responders arrived.
A female passenger Lai sitting in the front row of the upper deck recalled seeing the bus drove straight into the barrier without switching lanes.
She said the bus tilted to its side after the crash and she told everyone to stay calm and remain in their seats as she worried the bus would topple over.
Lai also said she is very lucky to be able to walk away unscathed.
Meanwhile, others told reporters that they saw people being thrown from their seats, with one of them being tossed forward for about four to six meters.
A video shot on the upper deck of the bus after the accident showed an elderly woman experiencing discomfort, she also got bruises around her left eye.
Passengers can be seen looking after the woman and fanning with their books to help her stay cool while waiting to be rescued inside the bus with air-conditioning cut off.