Three people died as a taxi overturned after hitting a motorcycle in an apparent case of driving under the influence in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on New Year’s Day.

The taxi, carrying five passengers, was traveling along National Route 20 when it crashed into a motorbike running in the same direction at around 11:00 pm on Tuesday.

The cab, operated by local taxi firm Lado, kept barreling forward before slamming into roadside trees and turned upside down.

Three of the passengers died while the other two, as well as the 23-year-old female driver and the motorcyclist, were seriously injured. The taxi was also severely damaged following the crash.

An official handling the case said the cabbie was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, adding his blood sample was taken for testing.

Local authorities gave families of the deceased victims VND5 million (US$215) each as support over the tragedy.

The taxi involved in the accident killing three passengers is seen on a pavement in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam’s Central Highlands, January 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A motorbike is seen after being hit by the taxi in the accident that killed three in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam’s Central Highlands, January 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The drink-driving limit for drivers in Vietnam is 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 millimeters of blood, or more than 0.4 milligrams of alcohol for every liter of breath.

Drunk driving is punishable by a VND16-18 million ($688-774) fine and confiscation of the driving license from four to six months.

Road accidents killed 81 people and injured 41 others on the last three days of 2018 in Vietnam, when multiple people traveled on tourism trips or back to their hometowns, according to the country’s National Traffic Safety Committee.

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