Was it due to steering, sudden braking, or mistaking the accelerator for the brake?

The car lost control, crashed through the iron railing, and plunged into the river.

At approximately 6 PM on December 14th, a Hyundai i10 was traveling on the Dong Nai Bridge from Binh Duong Province towards Dong Nai Province. Near the end of the bridge, the car suddenly lost control, crashed through the iron railing, and plunged into the river. The driver, a young woman only 22 years old, died. According to her family, before the accident, she had spoken to relatives on the phone, saying she was on her way home.

Relatives wept upon seeing Ms. N's body.

On the morning of December 15th, the car was recovered almost completely deformed, with the front bumper and grille crushed. The windows were shattered, the interior was flooded with water and mud; the roof was severely dented due to the impact of the collision and sinking into the river. The girl's body was found still clinging to the steering wheel.

To date, no video footage from security cameras or dashcams recording the events of the accident at that time has been shared. Some news outlets suggest that, startled by the car in front braking, the girl braked suddenly and swerved, causing her car to hit the railing and fall into the river. Others question whether the victim may have mistaken the accelerator for the brake.

Therefore, the online community is still quite unclear about the details and reasons why the car climbed from the road onto the sidewalk and plunged into the Dong Nai River. However, according to driving instructors, there are many driving skills lessons to be learned from this incident.

Mr. Dang Duc Van (a driving instructor at Dong Do Driving Training Center) said: "This is not an isolated accident, but it is a valuable lesson for drivers. Situations where the car in front brakes suddenly happen quite often on the road, but many students, especially female students, often lose their composure."

"For female students learning to drive or taking driving practice, I often guide them on how to sit comfortably while driving to achieve a calm and focused state behind the wheel. When their mindset is stable, they can handle emergency situations more quickly, thereby ensuring safety for themselves and those around them," he shared.

He added: “In situations where the vehicle in front brakes suddenly, the driver should quickly check the rearview mirror and surrounding space to find an escape route if needed, such as the shoulder or an empty lane. However, drivers must also remember the important principle of not steering sharply, as this can cause the vehicle to lose control or overturn, leading to more unpredictable consequences.”

"Besides emergency handling skills, I think the most important thing every driver should remember, especially female drivers, is to always control their speed and distance. This habit helps reduce the risk of having to brake suddenly."

Returning to the incident, many believe the young female driver lost her composure and may have mistaken the brake pedal for the accelerator instead of braking sharply and swerving as some reports suggest. Currently, authorities have not reached an official conclusion regarding the cause of the accident. It is known that the driver's family is also appealing to the driving community to share dashcam footage from the time of the accident on the Dong Nai bridge, if available.

TH (according to Vietnamnet)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/vu-tai-nan-o-to-lao-xuong-song-do-danh-lai-phanh-gap-hay-nham-chan-ga-400732.html