20 punished over fatal coach accident in SW China

GUIYANG - Twenty people have been punished for a fatal coach accident that left 11 dead in August in Southwest China's Guizhou province, the local work safety watchdog said Friday.

Nine people, including the driver, were handed over to the police. Another 11 including Liao Zhenghai, party secretary of Anshun city, were given punishments by administrative and Party discipline agencies.

An investigation showed that the driver was speeding and talking on the phone, which directly led to the accident.

A one-million-yuan ($145,000) fine was imposed on the transportation company.

The coach carrying 39 people lurched to the side on an expressway at around 8 pm on August 20 in 2016, leaving 11 people dead and 28 injured. Direct economic losses from the accident reached 8.61 million yuan.