Bus Driver Jailed Over Lantau Crash

A bus driver who fell asleep at the wheel before his double-decker rammed into a truck on Lantau has been jailed for 17 months.

Nineteen people were injured in the November 2017 crash, five of them seriously.

The District Court heard that Ng Kim-wing, 58, had been getting little sleep at the time as he was caring for his wife, who had cancer and died in January this year. The crash happened at 5am in the morning.

Judge David Dufton said Ng, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, should have stopped and taken a rest after the bus swerved to the left shortly before the crash.

He said he understood the defendant needed to take care of his wife, but he should have shown equal concern for the safety of his passengers.

In sentencing, the judge said he was taking into account Ng's guilty plea and his genuine remorse.

Dufton also noted that Ng had lost his job after the crash, that he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, and that he was a long-time blood donor.

As well as the prison term, Ng's driving licence was suspended for three years and he was ordered to attend driving improvement lessons.

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