The scene of the accident on National Highway 5, which killed five and injured two on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI DƯƠNG — Police in the northern province of Hải Dương have decided to launch criminal proceedings against a truck driver following a fatal accident on National Highway 5 on Tuesday.

According to police in Kim Thành District, 36-year-old Hà Văn Hoàng from Thanh Hóa Province has been charged with violating traffic regulations and causing serious consequences, Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper reported.

At around 6am on Tuesday, Hòa lost control of the truck while he was travelling from Hà Nội to Hải Phòng, veering to the side of the road in an effort to avoid the divider and driving straight into a crowd gathered at the scene of an earlier accident.

The truck toppled over, crushing seven watchers and four motorbikes beneath it. Local traffic police said five died on the spot and two were injured.

At the police station, Hoàng initially declared he had noticed the breaks performing unusually before the accident. After stopping to check the brakes, he found they were still working and continued his trip. At the time of the accident, Hoàng failed to stop the truck with the brakes. — VNS