Deadly Bus Collision May Have Been Caused by Traffic Light Malfunction, Truck Driving in Restricted Area

A tragic bus collision in Nantong, Jiangsu province, which resulted in the death of an elementary school student and injuries to seven others, may have been caused by faulty traffic lights and a truck driving in a restricted area [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3]. The accident occurred just past noon on Friday when a bus carrying 45 individuals, mostly students on a class trip to an arts festival, collided with a truck at an intersection [para. 1][para. 2][para. 4]. The bus had 39 students along with three teachers, two parents, and one driver onboard. Among the injured were five students, one teacher, and the truck's driver [para. 4].

Local residents reported that the traffic lights at the accident site had malfunctioned several times throughout the year. Additionally, large construction vehicles, which are prohibited under local regulations established in 2020 from accessing certain areas due to safety concerns, have been seen passing through [para. 3]. At the time of the collision, it was determined that the traffic light for vehicles in the bus’s lane was not functioning. Despite this, the bus driver proceeded without adequately assessing the situation. Meanwhile, the truck was traveling at approximately 50 kph (31 mph) and struck the front-right side of the bus [para. 5].

The ongoing investigation into this incident highlights longstanding issues reported by locals concerning both traffic signal malfunctions and inappropriate use of restricted zones by large trucks [para. 6][para. 7][para. 8]. A resident named Xue noted difficulties in visibility at this particular intersection due to structural obstructions and mentioned that trucks often speed through despite visibility challenges [para. 7]. Another local named Wang expressed concerns about speeding trucks posing risks to pedestrians and had previously reported these issues around Lunar New Year [para. 8].

As of now, attempts to contact Nantong’s vehicle management office for comments have been unsuccessful [para. 9]. The community remains alert to these recurring traffic safety issues as social media posts indicate that other residents have also observed similar problems with traffic light functionality at this location [para. 6].