Northeast bus owner: 'The victim reported late so I only came to visit today'

(Baonghean.vn) - Accused of irresponsibility by the victim of the collision between two Northeast buses, the company director said that he did not know where the victim was before so he could not visit him immediately.

On October 8, an accident occurred between two Dong Bac buses in Thanh Chuong district, injuring four people, including two drivers and two passengers. The two injured passengers were Ms. Tran Thi Bich Nga (residing in Tan Phong block, Vinh city) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh (residing in hamlet 6, Thanh Van commune, Thanh Chuong). On October 10, these two passengers "accused" Dong Bac Trading and Construction Company (abbreviated as Dong Bac Company) of being irresponsible in inquiring about the health of the victims.

Two buses from the same Dong Bac company collided head-on. Photo: Thanh Chuong

In response to this information, on the morning of October 11, the leaders of Dong Bac Company responded. Mr. Mai Thanh Binh - Director of Dong Bac Trading and Construction Company, Nghe An branch confirmed that this morning (October 11), the company's staff went to Thanh Chuong Hospital to visit Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh.

“Yesterday afternoon, the company received notification that they were victims of the accident. But because they reported late, the company staff could only come this morning,” Mr. Binh explained. He also added that the company had to go see if they were real customers or not, “because we have failed many times, we need to have the ticket to verify.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Ngoc Anh said that as of 10:00 a.m. on October 11, she still had not seen a company representative come to visit her. “Yesterday afternoon, someone called claiming to be a company official and said they would come to visit, but they have not come yet,” Ms. Anh said.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh is being treated for her wound at Thanh Chuong General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chuong

Ms. Ngoc Anh has been using the bus service of Dong Bac company for many years. Because of her business in Vinh city, she buys a monthly ticket from the company. According to Ms. Anh, the fact that the company has not visited her is too slow.

“My time in the hospital has greatly affected my business, my children, and my relatives who have to be on duty to take care of me. I hope the company will be responsible to support me for my losses,” Ms. Anh shared.

Regarding Ms. Tran Thi Bich Nga, who is currently being treated at Nghe An General Hospital, Mr. Binh said that he had sent staff to visit her. “Before that, we did not know where the victim was. After knowing, on the afternoon of October 10, the company staff came to visit her.”

However, Mr. Nguyen Tu Hoi (Mrs. Nga's husband) had a different opinion. "On the afternoon of October 9, I called Mr. Binh - Director of Dong Bac Company to inform him that my wife was in that car and had an accident, and is currently being treated at Nghe An General Hospital. Mr. Binh said he was on a business trip and would send an officer to Thanh Chuong District Police to gather information to resolve the matter."

"It is unacceptable to say that we need to get information before resolving an accident 2 days after the accident occurred," Mr. Hoi commented.

Ms. Tran Thi Bich Nga is being treated at Nghe An General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chuong

Mr. Hoi also said that on the afternoon of October 10, a company employee came and told him to keep all the documents for later payment. “I heard that the driver used an old ticket book. But whether it is old or not is the company’s fault, it is not the customer’s fault. We are keeping the tickets.”

Director of Dong Bac Company Mai Thanh Binh said that he had informed the insurance agency, contacted and worked with the driver, and discussed the levels of financial support. Regarding the driver's responsibility, Mr. Binh affirmed that if the cause of the accident was caused by the driver, the driver must be held responsible before the law.

"We never wanted an accident to happen. But when it happened, the first responsibility I had to handle was the driver and my employees. The driver must be responsible for compensating the company in such cases. The settlement of the accident in Thanh Chuong, when there are official results, will be announced to the press," said Mr. Binh.

In response to many opinions that Dong Bac bus drivers often speed and drive recklessly, Mr. Binh replied that the company would clarify and rectify the situation, requiring drivers to be held legally responsible if such incidents occurred. He also affirmed that the company regularly reminds drivers to obey traffic laws.

Driver Tran Van Sau with many injuries on his face and eyes is being treated at Thanh Chuong General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chuong

"I do not tolerate cases caused by subjective errors of the driver," Mr. Binh affirmed and added that even in accidents where the company is not at fault but there are casualties, the company still supports the victim's family, sometimes the amount is up to several hundred million.

On the morning of October 11, a representative of Thanh Chuong District Police said that the police agency is in the process of clarifying and has not yet reached an official conclusion on the cause of the accident. The issue of compensation liability between the company and the passengers is a civil relationship, and the police agency does not monitor it.

Nguyen Hung - Dinh Ha