On July 26, a tragic traffic accident occurred in Hejin City, Shanxi Province, resulting in at least 6 fatalities and 8 injuries.
According to reports from the Chinese state media, at around 13:55 on July 26, a heavy-duty semi-trailer truck collided with a small van at the intersection of Xinguang Avenue and Fancunbao Road in Hejin City, Shanxi Province. The scene was chaotic, with both vehicles severely damaged. It is known that 6 people have died despite efforts at the hospital, and 8 others have been injured. The official investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
Witnesses reported that one of the vehicles involved was a 30-ton Shaanxi Auto Delong heavy-duty semi-trailer truck, and the other was a Wuling Hongguang van. The two vehicles were traveling at high speeds and collided head-on at the intersection, resulting in a loud and explosive crash. The van was thrown into the air, with its parts scattered on the ground, creating a scene of devastation.
One witness mentioned that among the victims was a family of four, parents returning with their two children from the county town to their rural hometown. The children’s school bags still contained unfinished summer homework. Another victim was the van driver, whose wife fainted upon hearing the news at the accident site. He had promised to return home after this trip to celebrate his child’s birthday.
The incident has sparked discussions online and has become a trending topic on Weibo.
Some netizens speculated that the continuous heavy rain in Hejin City at the time of the accident might have caused slippery roads, compounded by the lack of traffic signals at the intersection.
Others raised concerns about overloading of the local van and longstanding issues of speeding and driver fatigue in freight vehicles.
Additionally, some netizens pointed out that the intersection of Xinguang Avenue in Hejin City may pose safety hazards, as there have been 5 accidents reported at that location in the past three years.
On the afternoon of July 27, a reporter from Epoch Times contacted the Hejin City Traffic Police to inquire about the cause of the accident. The police responded that the official report will provide accurate information and that the investigation is still ongoing.