On the afternoon of May 1st, a small sedan in Chengdu’s High-Tech Zone indiscriminately hit pedestrians on Jiannan Avenue. The driver was eventually forced to stop by several car owners, wielding a sharp knife. Official reports stated that the incident resulted in 1 death and 11 injuries.
Renowned writer and critic Li Chengpeng posted on social media, “Around 5 pm this afternoon, on the main street of Chengdu’s Yintai City, a sedan indiscriminately rammed into pedestrians. The scene was extremely cruel. I often visit that street. Those who target civilians are nothing but beasts.”
Video footage circulating online showed that around 5 pm on May 1st, a grey sedan accelerated towards a crowd waiting at a traffic light, then indiscriminately hit pedestrians on the road, causing at least 6 people to fall to the ground, with witnesses mentioning the presence of children. The scene was described as horrific. The perpetrator then fled, continuing to drive at high speed, reportedly ramming into anyone in sight for at least another two kilometers.
The video showed the vehicle going against traffic onto the sidewalk, then reversing out and high-speed crashing into an electric scooter carrying two people, causing one person to be thrown and the other along with the scooter to be hit.
Witnesses stated that the perpetrator was eventually stopped by several brave car owners who used their vehicles to block him. The driver then got out of the car, still holding a knife while talking on the phone.
Despite such a severe incident of deliberate harm in Chengdu, the Chinese Communist Party authorities have systematically deleted all related screenshots and messages from social media platforms.
Until 8:50 pm that evening, state media CCTV News reported that the Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau of the Public Security Bureau announced a “road traffic accident” on Jiannan Avenue at the intersection of Tianfu Fourth Street at 5:20 pm on May 1st.
According to preliminary investigations, a 31-year-old man named Li, driving a small sedan, collided with pedestrians while making a right turn at the junction of Jiannan Avenue and Tianfu Fourth Street. Li fled the scene and during his escape, he had further collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians. The accident resulted in 1 death and 11 people injured to varying degrees. All injured individuals have been taken to hospitals for treatment.
The report stated that Li, the driver responsible for the incident, was captured on the spot. Initial investigations suggest that Li is suspected of “hit-and-run traffic accidents.” Testing has ruled out suspicions of drunk or drugged driving. Further investigations into the accident are ongoing.
Internet users sharply criticized the official account, stating, “I saw the video, the car accelerated even at the zebra crossing… the element of intention is so strong, yet the report is downplaying it.” “After watching a video, two people on an electric scooter were hit by the driver while watching the malicious act of revenge against society.” “Is this considered a traffic accident? After seeing the video on the scene, to define it as a traffic accident is outrageous!”
“It’s clearly intentional revenge against society by hitting people!” “It’s a deliberate collision, why sugarcoat it like that?” “Too many people clearly saw it.” “Targeting people for collisions and calling it a ‘traffic accident’?” “Why did the driver get out of the car with a knife? The videos and photos can’t be AI generated, right?” “By not allowing the dissemination of on-site pictures and videos, can relevant news reports serve as a substitute? Police briefings are not news reports and cannot fulfill the same function. If there are neither related reports nor the transmission of on-site information, how can the locals’ right to know about local incidents be protected?”