At least five people killed when coach collided with taxi at around 5am<\/b>
\nAt least five people were killed and more than 30 others injured after an airport-bound coach rammed into the back of a stationary taxi on a Hong Kong highway before daybreak on Friday.
Three men and two women died following the collision at North West Tsing Yi Interchange in Tsing Yi.
Several of the people injured were in serious condition. About 10 ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
\u201cThree people were certified dead at the scene and two people including the taxi driver were certified dead in hospital,\u201d a police spokesman said.
Many of the injured passengers were treated on the scene and taken to four public hospitals \u2013 Yan Chai Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Caritas Medical Centre.
A police source said initial information showed the taxi had stopped and turned on its hazard lights at the time of the incident.
He said some people were thrown out of the coach by the impact of the crash and officers were still trying to establish how many people were thrown out of the vehicle.
The accident took place near an exit of the Nam Wan Tunnel at Tsing Yi.
After the collision, the taxi driver passed out at the wheel. Police said the man was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok, where he was declared dead.
A coach passenger said other passengers told them the taxi was stationary when the coach crashed into it at full speed.
\u201cThe coach was fast. According to the other passengers seated at the front, there was a taxi pulled over on the side of the road and had its hazard lights on. But it seemed to me that the coach did not slow down. I fell onto the floor [when it crashed],\u201d they said.
One of them said the accident involved multiple crashes between the two vehicles.
\u201cThe coach crashed on its left [side] and its right before hitting the barrier in the middle of the highway and stopped. The speed was quite high, so some people fell onto the floor,\u201d he said.
Another passenger also confirmed there were multiple crashes between the coach and the taxi.
\u201cIt was very chaotic,\u201d he added.
A passing motorist told media that after he drove past the coach and taxi, he glanced at his rear view mirror and saw \u201cthe taxi had turned on its hazard lights and stopped\u201d.
He said there was a loud sound and from the mirror he saw \u201cthe coach rammed into the right rear of the taxi which was catapulted for a distance and the coach was veering left and right after the collision\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n