Car driver mistakes accelerator for brake, triggers fatal chain-reaction crash in Hanoi

At about 5:45 a.m. on Saturday, the 53-year-old woman was driving a four-seat car across the overpass toward Giai Phong Street when, near the middle of the bridge, she struck a motorcycle ridden by a 63-year-old man.

After hitting the motorcycle, the car went on to collide with two other vehicles traveling in the same direction before coming to a stop facing the bridge barrier, with its front end severely damaged.

The motorcyclist was killed at the scene. All vehicles involved sustained damage, and debris was scattered across an area of about 15 m.

Police closed the lane leading onto the overpass to deal with the incident, causing traffic congestion during the morning rush hour.

According to a representative of Traffic Police Team No. 4 under the Hanoi Traffic Police Department, preliminary findings indicate the crash was caused by the driver becoming drowsy and accidentally pressing the accelerator.