On May 15, a tragic incident occurred on Xuanwu Gate Street in Luoyang City, Henan Province, where a car accelerated and plowed into a crowd, resulting in multiple casualties. The local police initially labeled it as a “traffic accident,” but many believe it was another case of indiscriminate killing, possibly an act of societal revenge.
A video circulated online shows a car suddenly accelerating on the road, hitting a delivery three-wheeler, causing the driver to be thrown from the vehicle. The driver then continued at high speed and collided with a mother and daughter riding an electric scooter, knocking them to the ground before speeding off, leaving a scene of horror and chaos.
On May 16, the Luoyang City Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Detachment announced in a police report that on the evening of the 15th, a road traffic accident occurred in the West District of the city. A thorough investigation revealed that Zhu Mouqiang (male, 49 years old) was driving a small car along Xuanwu Gate Street when he rear-ended an electric three-wheeler and an electric scooter, leading to one fatality, two injuries, and damage to four small cars.
The report stated that the driver was apprehended at the scene and tests ruled out suspicions of drunk or drugged driving. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Following the incident, authorities issued a gag order to nearby residents, demanding the deletion of videos and photos related to the incident and prohibiting any discussions or sharing of information. They warned of consequences for those who disobey the directive.
While official statements label it as an “accident,” eyewitnesses and online users speculate it may have been an act of “revenge” or indiscriminate killing targeting society.
One eyewitness commented to reporters, “I was on the roadside at that time. The speed of the car was not indicative of a mere rear-end collision. The impact was extremely loud and terrifying. It seems like the driver had some kind of mental issue and sought to retaliate against society. After hitting people, the driver seemed oddly calm.”
Another resident who frequents the area stated, “I walk this route often, and I was terrified when I heard about what happened. It was barely half an hour after I passed by that I heard about the incident. A friend sent me the video, and it’s clear from the surveillance footage that the official statement is problematic. The driver reportedly only cared about the damage to his car after getting out.”
They added, “The problem is he did not even slow down. The likelihood of seeking revenge against society seems high. I hope the police can quickly determine the cause and make it public, or else more individuals might resort to such actions, making people afraid to go out.”
A third individual bluntly told reporters, “It was an act of revenge.” When pressed for further details, they declined to comment.
Numerous netizens expressed their lamentation online:
“I recall another incident of this nature today. Isn’t this happening too frequently?”
“This is unbelievable. If I’m not mistaken, this is the fourth incident in just half a month.”
“This is a tragedy! Innocent people being harmed! The underprivileged turning against each other… There are debts to be paid for such injustices… Why not confront those who wronged you? At this rate, life seems unbearable…”
“The situation is dire. The frequency of such occurrences is abnormal compared to previous years.”
“The consequences of decades of brutal development are now surfacing in this era.”
“The societal hostility is escalating. Why are Chinese people leading such pitiful lives?”
“More and more perpetrators are carrying out indiscriminate attacks on innocent passersby in China. What mentality drives such actions?”
As China’s economy faces challenges, and the populace grapples with hardships amidst political pressures, emotions escalate, leading to a rise in incidents of indiscriminate vehicular assaults. However, official reports often downplay or ignore the severity of such occurrences.
Earlier on May 11, a traffic accident involving a collision between a bus and a small car in Wuzhou City, Guangxi Province, resulted in the bus overturning off a bridge. All six passengers on the bus were injured and hospitalized, while two occupants of the car sustained minor injuries and sought medical attention on their own. Three bus passengers with severe injuries succumbed to their injuries the following day.
On May 10, in the Tangjiawan intersection of Qianjiang District, Chongqing, a white Mercedes suddenly rammed into pedestrians and vehicles waiting at a red light, leading to at least two fatalities and six injuries.
On May 4, in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, a motorcycle traveling at over 120 kilometers per hour struck three pedestrians on a crosswalk, resulting in two deaths and two injuries, including the perpetrator.
On the morning of May 3, a horrifying incident unfolded at a vegetable market in Linyang Town, Pingyang County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, as a sedan crashed into a crowd of people. The scene was described as gruesome, with over twenty individuals struck, resulting in five immediate fatalities, twelve severe injuries, and seven minor injuries. It was later reported that a total of eight people lost their lives.
On the afternoon of May 1, a small sedan carried out an indiscriminate attack on individuals in the Tianfu 4th Street of the High-tech Zone in Chengdu. The driver, who was apprehended by the police, was wielding a knife. Witnesses claimed that the casualties exceeded ten, and the scene was one of extreme devastation.