On the evening of March 22, a traffic accident occurred in front of the New Shanghai Building on Beinan 1st Road, Guanyin Qiao, Liangjiang New Area in Chongqing. A sedan crashed into a crowd of people, and the exact number of casualties is currently unknown. Eyewitnesses reported conflicting information, with some saying three people died while others mentioned two casualties. Witnesses at the scene claimed that the driver was intoxicated, and there is speculation about the possibility of the incident being an act of retaliation against society.
Zhao Wei (pseudonym) was having dinner at a night market near the New Shanghai Building around 7:30 p.m. when he heard a loud noise. He ran over to witness a chaotic scene with severe consequences.
“The area was crowded with pedestrians, and the sedan collided with another vehicle. There were many people waiting at the traffic lights, and all of them were hit when the car rushed over. The pedestrians didn’t expect a vehicle to come directly at them,” Zhao Wei said.
“After the collision, a girl was crying while lying on top of a man. The man’s left leg was severely injured, and the flesh of his thigh was torn off,” Zhao Wei described. The police set up screens and later dispersed the onlookers.
He revealed that the driver appeared to be around thirty to forty years old and seemed to be driving under the influence. “When the driver was pulled out of the driver’s seat, he was already asleep. I believe the driver was not in a clear state of mind – the police pressed him to the ground, and he was foaming at the mouth, indicating he was likely intoxicated.”
Video footage shows a grim scene with the sound of a woman crying, motionless bodies on the ground, and the damaged vehicle of the perpetrator, leaving a chaotic aftermath.
Zhao Wei also mentioned hearing that a special task force had been dispatched to the scene after the incident, suggesting the seriousness of the situation. With over ten people hit, there is a high possibility of retaliatory motives due to the potential backlash from the leaders involved.
Another witness at the scene claimed that eight people were hit, resulting in three deaths due to drunk driving. A local resident also speculated that it could be a case of drunk driving and societal retaliation, resulting in two deaths and several injuries.
As of the time of reporting, the Chongqing police have not issued an official statement. Videos related to the incident have been removed from online platforms.