Prosecutor Indicts Truck Driver Declared 'Not Guilty' in Fatal Accident Over Two Years Ago

In a surprising turn of events, the Provincial People's Procuracy No. 4 in Vĩnh Long has indicted truck driver Thạch Sa Phonl, aged 39, for violating regulations on road traffic participation. This indictment comes more than two years after a fatal accident, despite Phonl having been initially determined 'not guilty' by the police investigation.

The accident, which occurred on June 7, 2024, involved a collision between a motorcycle driven by 68-year-old N.V.O and a truck operated by Thạch Sa Phonl. According to the indictment, Phonl was driving his truck on tỉnh lộ 901 when he allegedly encroached on the wrong side of the road, leading to a collision with O.'s motorcycle. The impact caused O. to be thrown from his bike and subsequently collide with the front of Phonl's truck. O. died at the scene.

Forensic examination revealed that O.'s death was caused by severe neck injuries. Notably, at the time of the accident, O. had a blood alcohol content of 222 mg/100 ml, was operating without a driver's license, and his motorcycle lacked mandatory civil liability insurance. These factors were classified as administrative violations, not the primary cause of the accident.

Despite the initial police decision not to prosecute, citing the deceased rider as the primary cause and Phonl's violations as administrative, the Procuracy has now moved to indict Phonl. The indictment states that Phonl's failure to stay in his designated lane was the main cause of the fatal accident. The case highlights a complex legal situation where an individual initially cleared of criminal wrongdoing now faces charges.