The District Court on Friday sentenced a KMB bus driver to three-and-a-half years in prison, after he admitted to killing a passenger and seriously injuring two others in a crash in November last year.

Wong Wing-keung, 59, earlier admitted to one count of dangerous driving causing death, and a charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.

In sentencing, deputy judge Merinda Chow said she believed Wong was dozing off right before the bus crashed into a concrete kerb in Tai Wai, as surveillance footage showed the defendant nodding and shaking his head repeatedly for about 16 seconds.

Chow pointed out that while Wong had been a bus driver for 18 years and had a clear record, a deterrent sentence was necessary because the defendant had endangered the lives of those on board, and caused trauma to the family of the deceased passenger.

Wong was also disqualified from driving for five years.