Prosecution of barge crash case of Ghenh bridge

Dong Nai police decided to prosecute the case of the barge that collapsed Ghenh bridge to investigate violations in controlling water vehicles. The two captains are on the run.

On the afternoon of March 20, Colonel Bui Huu Danh, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Provincial Police, said that the Provincial Police Investigation Agency had decided to prosecute the case of a barge collapsing the Ghenh Bridge in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai. This prosecution is to investigate the act of violating regulations on controlling water transport vehicles according to Article 212 of the Penal Code.

Ghenh Bridge collapsed after being hit by a barge. Photo: Ngoc An

Currently, Dong Nai Provincial Police are coordinating with the Criminal Police Department (C45) of the Ministry of Public Security to clarify the incident. The two barge operators who caused the accident were identified as Nguyen Van Le (28 years old) and Tran Van Giang (36 years old, both from Bac Lieu). When the incident happened, these people jumped into the river and were then brought to shore by fishermen. They also asked for money from people and bought bus tickets to escape back to their hometown. Currently, Dong Nai Police have issued a notice, calling on Le and Giang to come to the investigation agency to present themselves.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Huynh Yen Nam, Head of the Criminal Police Department of Dong Nai Police, the authorities are checking neighboring wards and communes to verify information about human casualties. However, apart from the three survivors, the police have not recorded any missing or injured cases.

A delegation from the Ministry of Public Security inspected the scene on the afternoon of March 20. Photo: Ngoc An

Colonel Tran Trieu Tuan, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Fire Police Department, said the scene of the bridge collapse is being kept intact for investigation purposes. Therefore, the barge and sunken bridge components cannot be salvaged immediately.

On the evening of March 20, the Inspection Department No. 6 (HCMC) confirmed that the tugboat SG-3745, which towed the barge that caused the collapse of Ghenh Bridge, with a HCMC license plate, had expired its inspection nearly 3 months ago. Specifically, checking the data on the inspection system showed that this tugboat was last inspected on March 6, 2015 and its inspection expired on December 1, 2015.

The waterway traffic accident occurred at 11:30 a.m. on March 20 when an 800-ton barge crashed into the Ghenh bridge pier across the Dong Nai River in Hiep Hoa Commune, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai. The collision caused two spans of the bridge to break and sink into the river. Three people fell off the bridge but were rescued.

After the incident, Dong Nai province authorities blocked off the scene and coordinated with relevant agencies to handle the incident.

On the same afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned leaders of the Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Railways Corporation to go to the scene to command the rescue work after a barge crashed into Ghenh Bridge.

According to Zing.vn