Electric tourist shuttle service in Vietnam’s Quy Nhon suspended after fatal accident

The fatal crash took place on Friday night when an electric shuttle operated by a local tourism company hit a group of three tourists crossing Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in Quy Nhon Ward.

The vehicle failed to brake and dragged the victims nearly two meters.

The victims were tourists from Kien Tuong Ward, Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam.

Among them, Hoang Thi Nga, 69, died at the hospital, while Duong Thi Tuyet Suong, 60, and an 8-year-old child, L.D.M., were injured.

The child, who suffered a brain hemorrhage, underwent emergency surgery, and has regained consciousness.

The child remains under close medical supervision.

The driver in the fatal crash was identified as Nguyen Kim Khai, 39.

According to authorities, Khai was driving at 26 kph, had a valid Class C license, and tested negative for alcohol and drugs.

However, he showed signs of negligence and has been referred to the provincial police for further investigation.

During an emergency meeting convened on Saturday following the crash, Nguyen Truong Son, director of the provincial Department of Construction, a merger of the provincial transport department and construction department as part of a nationwide administrative restructuring, directed all electric shuttle operators in Quy Nhon to suspend service for a full inspection of both vehicles and drivers.

Only those meeting all safety requirements will be allowed to resume operations.

Thinh Hung Travel Company, which operated the vehicle involved in the crash, said it is assisting the victims’ families.

The company’s local branch confirmed cooperation with authorities and pledged support.

The provincial traffic police division reported that in the second half of July, they documented 29 violations by electric shuttle drivers through direct inspections and undercover surveillance.

Common violations included using mobile phones while driving, driving against traffic flow, and double-parking.

The construction department recently imposed a speed limit of 30 kph for electric shuttles on certain tourist roads in Quy Nhon to improve public safety.

Quy Nhon Ward was formed by merging several wards of former Binh Dinh Province's Quy Nhon City, a popular beach destination in south-central Vietnam.

Binh Dinh was officially amalgamated into Gia Lai to establish the current Gia Lai Province as part of the nationwide admistrative restructuring drive, effective from July 1.