An angry bus driver ploughed his vehicle into pedestrians and vehicles on Saturday afternoon after a job-related dispute. Two people were killed and 16 people were injured, including six in a critical condition in the city of south China's Guangdong Province.

The tragedy was triggered by a quarrel between the driver, surnamed Liu, and his team leader at about 2 PM, according to local police.

Liu, an employee of Shenzhen Pengxiang Public Transportation Co, which serves the No 67 route, was not satisfied with his position in the company and blamed the team leader.

The driver stabbed the team leader with a knife and then left with the bus.

After receiving reports from the transportation company, the police chased the bus and took measures to intercept it.

The driver attempted to commit suicide after his bus was stopped but failed. He was finally taken away by the police.

Four of the injured have been released from hospital and the situation of the remaining 12 is stable, according to the police.

A publicity officer of the Shenzhen Bureau of Public Security refused to give further details of the case, explaining that it was still under investigation.

The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shenzhen Bus Group, the city's largest urban public transportation service provider, also refused an interview with China Daily.

"We are currently co-operating with the police concerning the case and no progress can be released at the moment. We may give a press conference later at the proper time," a customer service officer of Shenzhen Bus Group said, adding that she was only authorized to give this response.

In another traffic accident case in Shenzhen, the driver, who was responsible for the city's largest accident, killing 19 and injuring a further 19 last August, has been recently sentenced to seven years imprisonment, reported the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily yesterday.

The man drove a kindergarten bus onto a pavement crowded with snack vendors, workers and couples on an outdoor dance floor on August 23 last year.

The fact that he was wearing slippers and that the brakes and tyres failed to meet the required standards were mainly responsible for the accident, according to the court judgment.

(China Daily February 20, 2006)