Ambulance fire kills 3 on Vietnam expressway

The incident was confirmed on Thursday morning by a representative of the expressway traffic patrol team No. 6 under the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

At around 0:15 the same day, the 12-seater ambulance was traveling on the access road leading into the expressway rest area when it collided with the rear of a container truck that was parked on the slope at the entrance to the rest stop.

The crash caused the ambulance to burst into flames.

Five people were aboard the ambulance at the time.

Three were trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene, while two others managed to escape.

The ambulance was completely burned out.

The deceased were identified as Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, 62, a patient; Vo Van Nghia, 30; and the driver of the ambulance from Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

The two survivors were Vo Van Huan, 75, and Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, 52, both residents of Gia Lai Province.

Ha is the younger sister of Lan Anh.

The representative of the Traffic Police Department told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that officers conducted rapid alcohol and drug tests on the container truck driver, identified as N.V.K., with no violations initially detected.

Preliminary assessments indicated that the accident was caused by the ambulance driver’s lack of attention, signs of drowsiness, and excessive speed.

The driver reportedly failed to slow down upon entering the rest zone, leading to the collision.

After being notified of the incident, police officers arrived at the scene to handle the case in accordance with regulations.

The area where the accident occurred is marked with no-parking signs, and the rest stop does not have staff directing vehicle movements.

The ambulance, which was traveling from Cho Ray Hospital to Gia Lai Province, was carrying all required documentation for an emergency vehicle.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.