Driver arrested after Vietnam bus fire kills seven

A bus driver in Vietnam's Dong Nai province faces charges after a fiery crash killed seven passengers. Tran Thanh Hai, 41, was arrested and detained by police investigating the "violation of regulations on road traffic participation" after the incident early Sunday.

Authorities say Hai was driving a sleeper bus from Khanh Hoa to Ho Chi Minh City with 37 passengers and a co-driver. Around 2 a.m. Sunday, while traveling on National Highway 1, Hai reportedly dozed off due to fatigue. His vehicle veered off the road and collided with a guardrail.

The impact sent a section of the guardrail piercing through the bus's undercarriage, causing the engine to stall. Fire erupted in the front of the vehicle and quickly engulfed the entire bus. The bus's single door, operated by air pressure, became inoperable when the engine died, trapping many passengers.

Hai and the co-driver managed to break open a door and guide some passengers to safety. However, the rapid spread of flames and smoke prevented others from escaping. Seven passengers died, and six were injured. Hai later surrendered to police, confessing to the events.