On October 3rd, there was a circulating report that a serious traffic accident involving the well-known Chinese automotive critic Chen Zhen occurred while he was driving his Rolls-Royce Phantom. The front of the car was severely damaged, while the other vehicle involved was thrown off the road onto the roadside green belt. However, as of now, Chen Zhen has not commented on the incident.
In the afternoon of October 3rd, several bloggers posted pictures claiming that Chen Zhen was driving a Rolls-Royce Phantom at the accident site on Wanshou Road. The photos showed the heavily dented front of the Phantom with the airbags deployed, positioned in the opposite direction lane. The individuals outside the car were suspected to be the renowned automotive critic Chen Zhen.
Eyewitnesses posted that the Phantom was speeding in the opposite direction from north to south at the time of the accident, colliding with a white car and sending it flying over multiple lanes before coming to a stop on the green belt. The condition of the occupants of the white car is currently unknown.
According to Jimo News, the license plate of the vehicle involved matched that of the car owned by Chen Zhen, which he purchased as a used car at the end of May this year. Chen Zhen had previously posted videos on social media stating that this was his fourth Rolls-Royce, all of which were used, expressing his desire to customize a Rolls-Royce model of his own in the future.
The jurisdictional traffic police officers responded on the evening of the 3rd, confirming that an accident had indeed occurred around 3 p.m. on Wanshou Road, and the investigation is still ongoing. As for the vehicle model and owner information, it is currently not yet known.
Following the incident, Chen Zhen updated multiple Weibo posts without mentioning the accident.
The news of Chen Zhen’s car accident has sparked heated discussions online.
Some netizens inquired about the condition of the BYD car owner, with speculations suggesting they are not in life-threatening danger since they were able to update Weibo.
Others mentioned that while the occupants in the front with seat belts had no major injuries, the rear passengers without seat belts bled profusely. They were taken away by an ambulance, but there is no further information currently available.
An online chat log revealed that Chen Zhen’s car was uninsured, with repair costs estimated to exceed one million RMB, for which he would be fully responsible.
In 2023, Chen Zhen responded to a netizen’s query on Weibo, mentioning that he only purchased compulsory traffic insurance for his cars, citing his cautious driving habits and owning multiple vehicles as reasons not to opt for comprehensive insurance as it would not be cost-effective.
Public records show that Chen Zhen is a well-known automotive critic and the founder of the Radish Report. From 2005 to 2006, Chen Zhen was known as the “Speed King” among Beijing street racers. It was rumored that he could complete the entire Beijing Second Ring Road, spanning 32.7 kilometers, in just 13 minutes around 9 to 10 pm when traffic flow was normal, earning him the nickname “Thirteen Lord of the Second Ring”.
For further reading:
58-year-old Carina Lau spotted at the gym, praised for looking like she’s in her 40s
Gillian Chung responds to starring in the third season of “The Longest Day in Chang’an,” sets two conditions
Dalian subway accident leads to one-hour shutdown, official response raises questions