The captain of a sand-laden boat that plowed into Jiujiang
Bridge in southern Guangdong Province on June 15, causing it to
collapse and killing eight people, was arrested on Friday, August 3
and charged with violating traffic regulations, announced the
Zhuhai City procurator.
After departing from Foshan City at 4.30 AM on June 15, the
captain Shi Guide steered his vessel “Nanguiji 035” down the river
and headed for Shunde City. At around 5 AM, a thick fog descended,
shrouding the vessel in mist near Jiujiang Bridge. Ordinarily, the
captain should have ordered the ship to weigh anchor or to proceed
at minimal velocity but he decided to press on.
?
When approaching the bridge, the boat collided with a navigation
mark, a mere 80 meters from the bridge. The captain then realized
his boat had veered away from the normal course but still did not
stop but ordered his crew to navigate through the piers.
At 5.10 AM, the side of the boat careened into a supporting
pillar, causing the bridge to collapse. Four vehicles carrying
seven people plunged off the bridge along with two bridge workers.
Eight have been confirmed dead with one driver still missing.
The captain's negligence having led to this disaster, he has
been arrested. When interviewed, the captain revealed that he
mistook the lights on the piers for navigation lights and steered
straight on into the bridge. All the crew members survived due to
the good fortune of having been assembled at the stern when the
prow of their boat crashed into the piers.
(China.org.cn by He Shan, August 3, 2007)