A fatal vehicular accident occurred on Sha Tin Road this morning (5th), resulting in the death of a 61-year-old female worker. She was struck and run over by a tipper truck in the widening road construction site near Boyang Village on the northbound side of Sha Tin Road, 20 meters away from where she was hit. The 45-year-old male driver has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death. The woman was married and had three children, all of whom are grown adults. She had been working at the construction site for about a year, mainly responsible for washing the tires of vehicles entering and exiting the site. Her family members were deeply affected by the news and emotional upon arriving to identify the body. The Union has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, seeking to provide a proper explanation to the family and prevent similar accidents from happening. The general manager of Industrial Injuries Rights Association, Miss Xiao Qianwen, and the chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Federation, Mr. Zhou Si Jerry, have visited the accident site to learn more details. Xiao Qianwen expressed deep sadness at the incident and stated that the union had dispatched personnel to comfort the bereaved family. According to their initial understanding, the accident took place on a project expanded by the Department of Road Engineering at the Sha Tin T4 main road. When the truck entered the construction area, it unfortunately collided with the worker, who was in charge of cleaning the tires of the incoming vehicles. "She was washing one vehicle after another, preparing to leave when the following truck entered and tragically hit her," stated Xiao. As of now, the specifics of the incident are still under investigation. The construction work at the site has temporarily suspended. Xiao Qianwen hopes to hold a meeting with relevant organizations in the near future to gain a better understanding of the situation and provide a satisfactory answer to the family. She noted that this is the 22nd work-related accident-related death case this year, and the 7th such incident involving public works projects, urging the Labour Department and the Department of Road Engineering to conduct an investigation and assist the bereaved family to cope with their grief. Zhou Si Jerry also informed that when the incident occurred, there were two vehicles present, one of which was a tipper truck and the other a truck that had already washed its tires and was moving forward. The tipper truck driver was unaware of the presence of the female worker due to blind spots and a lack of separation between pedestrians and vehicles at the site. A pedestrian walkway and traffic control system are urgently needed, according to Zhou, to avoid similar accidents. He urged workers to be extra cautious and avoid standing too close to heavy vehicles, as they have many blind spots.
The incident has again highlighted the challenges and risks of road construction sites, especially those involving heavy machinery. With the ongoing construction boom in Hong Kong, safety measures and worker protection have become top priorities. The unions and relevant government departments are calling for stricter regulations and more safety measures to prevent such tragic accidents. The bereaved family is seeking justice, while the community is urging for a comprehensive investigation and improved safety in construction zones.