Causes of Chongqing Boat Collision UncoveredThe cause of the boat collision on December 2 in Chongqing, southwest China, has been uncovered, and the people responsible for the accident will be punished according to law, reliable sources said.A passenger ship capsized after a collision with a boat carrying sand and stones on December 2 in Tongnan County, killing 13 of the 23 people on board. Zhang Mengchuan, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Bureau for Harbor and Navigation Supervision, said that investigations have shown that the main factor causing the accident was that Wu Jiehua, a farmer from Zhonghe Township in Zhongliang County, was using a private boat that was not up to the required navigation standards and was carrying passengers illegally. Wu did not have a boating certificate and knew nothing about the regulations for collision avoidance on inland rivers, according to Zhang. Zhang Mengchuan said, the owner of the other boat, carrying sand and stones, did not take any steps to avoid the collision and is also responsible for the accident. Zhang will be given an administrative sanction according to related regulations on inland river navigation. Judiciary procedures against people who are responsible for the accident will begin soon, Zhang said. |
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