China
11:17, 02-Feb-2018
Police: Shanghai minivan crash injuring 18 is an "accident"
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A minivan plowing into pedestrians outside a Starbucks in downtown Shanghai, injuring 18 people on Friday morning, was a traffic accident, according to Shanghai police.
The accident happened at around 9 a.m. when the van carrying six people veered sharply onto the sidewalk outside a Starbucks on Nanjing West Road and caught on fire.
According to a preliminary investigation by the police, the driver is suspected of illegally transporting dangerous goods like gas canisters and the fire was possibly caused by him smoking inside the van.
The 40-year-old driver, surnamed Chen, is now still in a coma but police said he was not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
As of 9:25 a.m. local time, the fire had been extinguished and the area cordoned off.
Eighteen people including Chen and 17 passers-by have been taken to hospital. Chen was seriously injured but the injuries to the others aren't life threatening.
A further investigation is underway.
(Cover Photo via Weibo)
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