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Prosecutors approve arrest of 'death driver'

By Cao Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-19 09:17

Hangzhou prosecutors have ratified the arrest of Hu Bin, whose sports car allegedly stuck and killed a pedestrian during a street race.

The first heart-dotted zebra crossing is unveiled on Moganshan Road in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Monday as part of the "I love zebra" campaign organized by local authorities in a bid to raise awareness of traffic laws. [Tao Yuqi]

"Hu Bin should take full responsibility for the accident," said Zheng Xianzhi, spokesman of Hangzhou Public Security Bureau.

"We have arrested him on the charge of causing traffic disturbances based on evidence we have collected," Zheng said.

"It is up to the court to decide what type of crime Hu has committed."

Hu has been in detention - but not under arrest - since his red Mitsubishi Evolution struck and killed 25-year-old Tan Zhou on May 7 at 8:08 pm.

Witnesses said Tan was thrown 5 meters in the air and landed more than 20 meters away.

Hu Bin, a 20-year-old sophomore at Hangzhou Normal University, and two friends have been accused of street racing and of acting indifferently after the accident, enraging passers-by.

Police initially said Hu's vehicle was traveling at 70 km per hour, which is 20 km over the limit. However Zheng later withdrew that estimate.

"Our traffic police drew that conclusion based on testimonies from Hu Bin and his friends, which is neither meticulous nor proper," he said. "We are sorry for the misunderstanding caused."

Forensic experts later determined that Hu's car was traveling between 84 km per hour and 101 km per hour.

Their report also concluded that Hu's sports car had been illegally modified to make it travel at high speeds.

Wang Guoping, Party chief of Hangzhou, said the city would take stronger measures to address speeding drivers.