Family grateful for support, but it turns down donations from public

The family of a bus driver who protected his passengers after being critically wounded by flying metal debris declined donations on Monday, as thousands of people gathered at his home and community in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to show respect.

Crowds bid farewell to bus driver Wu Bin as the hearse carrying his body drives to a funeral home in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Monday. Li Zhong / for China Daily

In an open letter, Wu Bin's family said they were grateful for the large number of people who have shown tremendous love while they grieve the loss of a loved one.

However, the family said it cannot accept money, materials or donations from the public in any form, since financial aid has poured in following media reports that Wu lived a thrifty life with his parents, wife and a teenage girl.

"We will earn our own living, take care of ourselves and family members and make a good living," the family said.

The driver's sister, Wu Bingxin, also stressed that the family has been well supported by the provincial and city governments, as well as her brother's company.

Wu, 48, was driving a bus carrying 24 passengers on a highway in Jiangsu province on May 29 when he was struck by a flying metal fragment that smashed through the windshield.

Despite having suffered severe injuries, Wu managed to bring the vehicle to a halt and made sure all of the passengers escaped unharmed. He died in a hospital on Friday due to the severe injuries to his liver, ribs and other organs.

On Monday, thousands of people from all over China came to Wu's home and community to say farewell to the hero as his coffin was carried to a funeral home.

Due to the large crowd, police had to cordon off the road between Wu's home and the cemetery, and control the number of people visiting his home. Hundreds of wreaths were placed around his apartment, and banners were hung throughout the community to mourn the loss of a good neighbor and model resident.

When the coffin carrying Wu's body was placed in a hearse and ferried to the funeral home on Monday, the crowd wailed and became immersed in deep sorrow. A local taxi company organized a fleet to follow the hearse to show respect.

"The heroism of Wu Bin has deeply impressed me, and I can hardly calm down even several days after learning what he has done," said Shen Wei, a junior middle school teacher who brought four students with her to pay a visit to Wu's family during Monday's lunch break. "I hope his spirit of devotion could be learned by my students and spread to other walks of life."

Wu Xinghua, an 84-year-old local resident, came to Wu's home to say goodbye despite her waning health.

Supported by her daughter and grandson, the teary-eyed elderly woman kept saying to journalists that "he is a hero and I want to thank him".

Government leaders, including the provincial Party chief Zhao Hongzhu, also visited Wu's family, who has been granted 500,000 yuan ($79,000) in cash and a downtown apartment by Wu's company and a government-backed foundation.

Police had not announced a cause for the accident by Monday evening, but the initial investigation suggested that the 3.5-kg piece of metal was part of a brake hub that had broken off from another vehicle.

More than 20 motor vehicles have been traced due to suspicions of being linked to the accident.

Contact the writers at wangzhenghua@chinadaily.com.cn and zhouyiyi@chinadaily.com.cn

Zhang Jianming contributed to this story.