Võ Nguyễn Duy An, the car driver involved in the fatal accident in Đà Nẵng City on May 1, at the police station. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐÀ NẴNG — The driver involved in a fatal car fire at a petrol station in Đà Nẵng is being prosecuted for violating fire prevention and firefighting regulations, city police said on Monday. 

The incident occurred on May 1 at Petrolimex Gas Station 90 in Thăng Điền Commune, Đà Nẵng City. 

Driver Võ Nguyễn Duy An, 24, has been taken into custody. N.Q.V., 32, who owns the vehicle and the batteries found in the car trunk, is facing further investigation. 

According to police investigators, V. ran a business that rented children’s electric vehicles and regularly purchased, repaired and charged batteries for his business operations. 

Around 2pm on May 1, V. asked An to drive a car carrying two teenage boys, T.H.T. and D.A.K., and a large quantity of fully charged batteries from a shop in Tú Nghĩa Village to a warehouse in An Thắng Ward.

At approximately 3.20pm on the same day, the car burst into flame shortly after it stopped to refuel at the petrol station in Thăng Điền Commune.

Surveillance footage from the site showed that An exited the vehicle, leaving the engine running. The fire then broke out from the trunk as station staff prepared for refuelling. 

The fire was brought under control after 15 minutes, but authorities found the bodies of the two boys in the backseat of the car. 

Reports said rescue forces were unaware there were passengers in the car when they carried out firefighting operations. An later told the police he was “overwhelmed and unable to react.”

The vehicle was completely burned, with all interior parts destroyed and one gas pump damaged.

Police said the large quantity of fully charged batteries being transported did not meet safety standards during transit, posing a particularly high risk of fire and explosion.

Đà Nẵng police are conducting further investigations to determine the role and responsibility of the individuals involved. — VNS