Traffic on eastbound Lung Cheung Road came close to a standstill during Monday’s evening rush hour after two separate road accidents occurred along the busy Kowloon route within less than half an hour.
The crashes involved a motorcycle, a private car, a light goods vehicle and a refuse collection truck. Emergency operations required temporary lane closures at two locations, leaving motorists heading towards East Kowloon facing lengthy delays.
The first collision happened shortly before 6pm near the approach to Ma Chai Hang Roundabout, where a private car collided with a motorcycle travelling along eastbound Lung Cheung Road.
Motorcyclist Injured After Collision
The force of the crash knocked the motorcyclist onto the road and left the rider injured.
Despite the impact, the motorcyclist remained conscious and was able to contact emergency services personally to report the accident. Emergency personnel were subsequently called to the scene as authorities dealt with the injured rider and secured the area.
The crash also affected traffic approaching the Ma Chai Hang Roundabout, one of the key connections along the route.
At 6.19pm, the Transport Department announced that the sole lane of Ma Chai Hang Road heading towards Chuk Yuen Road near the roundabout had been temporarily closed.
The closure was introduced to allow emergency crews to attend the accident and manage the vehicles involved. Drivers approaching the area were warned to expect congestion as traffic was diverted around the affected section.
Second Crash Adds to Growing Congestion
The traffic disruption intensified when a second accident occurred further along eastbound Lung Cheung Road near Tin Ma Court in the direction of Kwun Tong.
The second collision involved a light goods vehicle and a refuse collection truck.
The goods vehicle sustained heavy damage in the crash, while the refuse truck veered off course and struck the roadside barrier.
The position of the damaged vehicles, together with debris scattered across the carriageway, created a much larger obstruction than the first accident.
For a period, the wreckage blocked all eastbound lanes of Lung Cheung Road. Vehicles travelling towards Kwun Tong were consequently unable to continue through the affected section, causing traffic to back up rapidly.
The timing of the second accident made the situation particularly difficult for motorists. The crash occurred during the evening commuting period, when large numbers of vehicles were already using Lung Cheung Road.
Lanes Reopened as Queues Continued
The Transport Department later announced at 6.42pm that some lanes near Tin Ma Court had reopened.
The partial reopening allowed traffic to begin moving through the affected section, but authorities warned that the long queues created by the earlier closure would not disappear immediately.
Once a major road becomes blocked during peak traffic hours, reopening lanes does not instantly restore normal conditions. Vehicles already trapped behind the obstruction can take considerable time to clear, particularly when traffic volumes remain high.
Motorists travelling eastbound were therefore likely to face continuing delays even after emergency crews restored access to part of the road.
The two crashes also affected different points along the same major arterial route, creating additional pressure on surrounding roads as drivers sought alternative routes.
Heavy Evening Traffic Compounds Disruption
Lung Cheung Road is an important east west route through Kowloon and carries substantial traffic during weekday commuting periods. An accident that blocks even one section can quickly affect nearby junctions and connecting roads.
Monday’s incidents demonstrated how quickly separate crashes can compound congestion when they occur within a short period.
The first collision near Ma Chai Hang Roundabout resulted in an emergency lane closure shortly after 6pm. Before traffic conditions had fully stabilised, the second crash near Tin Ma Court created another obstruction farther along the same eastbound route.
The second collision was particularly disruptive because the damaged vehicles and roadside debris temporarily prevented traffic from using the eastbound carriageway.
With all lanes blocked, vehicles could not pass the scene until emergency crews had cleared enough space for traffic to resume.
Authorities Manage Two Accident Scenes
Transport officials coordinated traffic arrangements at both locations while emergency personnel dealt with the crashes.
At Ma Chai Hang Road, the temporary closure was needed to support emergency operations following the motorcycle collision. Further east, crews had to deal with the damaged light goods vehicle, the refuse truck and the roadside barrier after the second crash.
The separate incidents required authorities to manage two accident scenes along the same major traffic corridor at almost the same time.
The Transport Department’s updates provided motorists with information about the closures and subsequent reopening of lanes.
By 6.42pm, some lanes near Tin Ma Court had reopened, but the department warned that traffic queues would take time to disperse.
For commuters already caught in the congestion, the warning meant that the end of the physical obstruction did not necessarily mark the end of the journey delays.
The incidents also served as a reminder of the effect that even relatively isolated crashes can have on heavily used urban roads during peak periods.
With the first accident involving an injured motorcyclist and the second causing extensive vehicle damage and a temporary full blockage of the eastbound carriageway, Monday’s sequence of crashes turned an already busy evening commute into a prolonged traffic disruption.
Motorists using eastbound Lung Cheung Road towards East Kowloon were advised to allow additional travel time while traffic gradually returned to normal.