On October 4th, a white sedan in Lichuan, Hubei Province lost control, plowing into multiple people and resulting in 5 deaths and 8 injuries. The police reported that the cause of the accident was due to the improper operation by the 54-year-old female driver.
A video circulating online shows the chaotic scene on a street in Lichuan City, Hubei Province, where numerous street vendors line the roadside. The white sedan appears to have lost control, speeding towards the crowd, causing multiple people to be knocked down. Some individuals lay motionless on the ground after being hit, with one woman suspected to be pregnant lying in the middle of the road.
Witnesses have shared their harrowing experiences online, with one commenter stating, “The scene was too horrifying for me to witness. I was on the opposite lane when the car hit the people. The ground was filled with bodies, and that image kept me up all night. The first little girl was the most pitiful.”
On October 5th, the Lichuan City police issued a report stating that around 5:00 pm on October 4th, the 54-year-old female driver, Xiong Mouqin, lost control of her small car due to improper operation, resulting in 2 immediate deaths, 3 fatalities after failed rescue attempts, and 8 injuries. Currently, Xiong Mouqin has been detained, with no suspicions of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the injured individuals are not in life-threatening condition.
The accident has sparked widespread attention online, with netizens speculating, “Did the accelerator get confused for the brake?” “Hopefully, it was not a case of retaliating against society for some reason. It’s terrifying. Pedestrians should be cautious while walking on the roads, regardless of whether there are cars behind them, and must especially pay attention if there are vehicles approaching from behind. One should not entrust their life solely on the driving behavior of others.”
Some internet users have questioned, “How can this be quickly labeled as ‘improper operation’?” “The police report should clearly explain what ‘improper operation’ means to the public. If the technical analysis has been completed and a conclusion is reached, it would demonstrate both the strict adherence to the law and serve as a warning to the public on how to prevent similar tragedies from reoccurring.”