Hong Kong bus driver escapes death as metal pole pierces windscreen, hits chest

A Hong Kong double-decker bus driver narrowly escaped death on Monday when a metal pole suddenly pierced the windscreen of his vehicle and hit his chest, causing only minor injuries.

The about 1.5-metre-long (4.2-foot-long) pole pierced the windscreen and struck the left side of the driver’s chest at about 5.40pm, just after the packed vehicle passed an interchange near Tai Lam Tunnel’s northbound exit.

The bus was part of the services for the Citybus route 967, going from Admiralty to Tin Shui Wai.

A male passenger rushed to help the driver after he called for help.

Emergency services later arrived and found the driver still conscious with only minor injuries. He was then rushed to Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long for treatment.

Police have seized the pole for further examination.

A passenger told media outlets that the incident occurred about 500 metres away from the interchange. He said there was a loud “bang” after the vehicle passed the gantry of the tunnel.