Family members and mourners line the street on Feb 11, 2018 for a funeral procession in Tai Po Mei Tsuen where a double-decker bus crashed the previous day, leaving 19 passengers dead and 66 injured. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Police in Hong Kong are investigating the cause of a fatal road accident that left 19 passengers killed and 66 injured near Tai Po Mei Tsuen in New Territories on Saturday evening. 

The accident is being seen as one of Hong Kong's deadliest since at least 2003. Ten among those injured are said to be in critical condition.

An independent commission, led by an appointed judge, will be set up to investigate the incident and help ensure safety in public transport, said Chief Executive Carrie Lam

At around 6:15 pm, a double-decker bus, carrying passengers in full capacity from the racecourse in Sha Tin towards Tai Po crashed near Tai Po Mei Tsuen. Saturday was a horse-racing day.  

IN PICTURES: Tragedy strikes Hong Kong

Firemen and paramedics were sent to the scene to rescue those trapped in the bus wreckage. Firemen had to cut open the ceiling of the bus to rescue the trapped. 

The 66 injured were sent to 12 hospitals for medical care. One of them, a man, was later certified dead at the hospital.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, visited the injured at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin on Saturday night.

An independent commission, led by an appointed judge, will be set up to investigate the incident and help ensure safety in public transport, Lam told reporters at the hospital. Social workers will follow up on the needs of all affected families.

She was accompanied by Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung and Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee.

Lam offered her condolences to the families of the accident victims.

The bus flipped onto its side after crashing on Feb 10, 2018. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Leaders of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said they were saddened by the fatal traffic accident, and expressed sympathy to the injured and condolences to the families of the dead.

On Sunday afternoon, on behalf of Director of the Liaison Office of Wang Zhimin, deputy director Chen Dong visited the injured who are receiving treatment at Tuen Mun Hospital. Chen wished them quick recovery and thanked the hospital’s medical staff for their efforts.

Firemen conduct rescue operation after a bus crash in Hong Kong on Feb 10, 2018. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

The Liaison Office will be ready to provide assistance if the HKSAR government has any needs, they said.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council also sent a letter of sympathy to the HKSAR government, saying it was shocked to hear the sad news. 

The letter, posted on its official website, wished quick recovery of the injured, and extended condolences to the families of the dead.

The bus company, Kowloon Motor Bus, will have their own investigation team look into the matter, and submit a report to the Transport Department in a month's time.

Firemen conduct rescue operation after a bus crash in Hong Kong on Feb 10, 2018. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

The police arrested the bus driver, who is around 30, for dangerous driving causing death, a criminal offense that could land him in jail for up to 10 years.

Investigation by the Regional Crime Unit, New Territories North is underway, said police.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3344 or 9460 0523.

The reason of the deadly accident was yet to be confirmed. But a survivor on the bus told reporters that the bus was going very fast then. 

In 2003, a double-decker bus fell off a flyover in Tuen Mun, after running into a container truck, leaving 21 dead and making it Hong Kong’s worst car accident in history.  In 2008, a tour bus crashed in Sai Kung, claiming 18 lives.