Truck driver flees after vehicle crashes and bursts into flames on Lantau highway

A truck driver has eluded capture after his vehicle crashed and caught fire on Hong Kong's Lantau Island highway, causing damage to roadside barriers and injuring a taxi driver and passenger. The incident unfolded around 3.15am on Saturday during an amber rainstorm warning. A 16-tonne truck loaded with electronic parts was en route to the airport when it collided with eight meters of barriers on the North Lantau Highway near the Tung Chung Eastern Interchange.

The truck skidded on the wet road, slid 30 meters, and came to a stop on the shoulder, according to police reports. The fiery crash was captured on video, showcasing intense flames and thick smoke. Explosions were reported at the scene. Firefighters arrived to douse the flames but found the truck driver missing. He had reported the accident to his employer and a colleague but provided no explanation for his sudden departure.

Debris from the collision struck a taxi, resulting in injuries to the 32-year-old male driver and 27-year-old passenger. The taxi driver received medical attention at North Lantau Hospital, while the passenger did not require hospitalization. By 9.21am, the Transport Department reported that sections of the airport-bound North Lantau Highway near the Tung Chung East Interchange remained closed due to the vehicle fire, with traffic in the area experiencing congestion. Police are actively investigating the cause of the crash and searching for the truck driver.