Four killed as Hong Kong schoolbus mounts pavement

Four people were killed when an empty runaway schoolbus mounted a pavement in a crowded Hong Kong neighbourhood yesterday, trapping passers-by underneath and injuring 10, police said. Two women -- aged 80 and 70 -- and two men -- aged 83 and 77 -- were killed after the yellow bus careered out of control in the downtown North Point district.

Photographs in local media showed victims sprawled on the ground while others received medical treatment at the scene. The vehicle rolled down the street after it was parked, terrifying passers-by as the driver ran towards it and tried in vain to stop it, according to the police.

“We believe he might have forgotten to pull the handbrake or hadn’t properly pulled it,” chief inspector of police Sun Lun-yum told reporters. The 62-year-old driver became trapped under the bus and was dragged along for about 20 metres before falling onto the road.

Police said the bus travelled for a total of 100 metres, hitting two taxis before finally crashing into a building in a narrow lane lined with shops. In addition to the driver, who suffered injuries to his head, neck and back, a further nine pedestrians aged between 22 and 89 were taken to hospital for treatment. Several remain in a serious condition.