The driver of a truck that ran through a jogging school group in
Shanxi Province on Monday morning, killing 20 students and one
teacher, had fallen asleep at the wheel after driving non-stop for
eight hours, according to a local official quoted in a local
newspaper yesterday.
"He was fast asleep when the truck plowed into them and didn't
wake until he drove into trees," said Yue, a Changzhi City
spokesperson.
Li Xiaobo, 31 years old, told police he had been driving since
around 10 PM on Sunday when he left Licheng County in his coal
truck for Qinyuan County in Changzhi, where the accident took
place.
According to the local authorities, Li woke up only after
knocking down six trees growing alongside the road, after which he
made a sharp U-turn. The truck continued for more than 20 meters
before stopping.
Yue also said that the teacher who was killed, 32-year-old Jiang
Hua, had pushed aside two students before the truck struck him.
Police have detained Li and his co-driver. The school principal
was also detained over responsibility for the students' safety.
The local government has promised to pay 10,000 yuan (US$1,238)
for each victim's funeral expenses.
(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2005)