Two Chinese Suspects in Hit-and-Run of Four Kids After Hours of Drinking Offer Absurd Excuse

“I was drinking beer.”

The man whose car crashed into a group of elementary school children, injuring four of them with serious and minor injuries, reportedly gave this statement to the police.

On May 18, the Yoshikawa Police Station in Saitama Prefecture arrested Deng Hongpeng (42), a Chinese national and demolition worker living in Misato City, on suspicion of violating the Act on Punishment of Acts Relating to Driving a Vehicle (causing injury by negligence) and the Road Traffic Act (hit-and-run) for fleeing after hitting the children. Deng is said to have been drinking alcohol until just before the incident. Additionally, Wang Hongli (25), also a Chinese national, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (riding in a vehicle while intoxicated) for riding in the car while aware that Deng had been drinking.

“The incident happened just after 4 p.m. on May 14. An SUV-type luxury car driven by Deng collided with a group of about ten elementary school children on their way home from school. Four boys were injured, including an 11-year-old sixth grader who suffered a severe injury — an avulsion fracture on the top of his right foot.

The two suspects briefly got out of the car but fled without providing proper assistance, as captured on security cameras and multiple dashboard cameras. It was also revealed that the two suspects had been drinking for several hours at a Chinese restaurant in Misato City since early afternoon before the incident. It is believed they fled the scene to avoid being caught for drunk driving,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department.

He simply left the scene

Suspect Deng turned himself in to the Yoshikawa Police Station on the 18th, four days after the incident, accompanied by an acquaintance. Since the police confirmed he had been drinking, his charges were changed to negligent injury and evading detection of alcohol influence. Wang, the other suspect, also turned himself in on the same day. It is alleged that Wang had knowingly driven Deng home while he was intoxicated.

During the inspection on the 19th, Deng, who appeared with a shaved head, crouched in the back seat of the transport vehicle with his face down the entire time. During questioning, Deng reportedly denied fleeing the scene, offering the following astonishing excuse:

“I did hit them, that’s for sure, but the other party (the injured children) said ‘I’m okay,’ so I just left the scene.”

Mika Yanagihara, a journalist knowledgeable about traffic accidents, explained:

“Drunk driving is, of course, a serious crime. Furthermore, fleeing the scene (hit-and-run) is an extremely despicable act and carries heavy penalties. The lives of victims, who might be saved with prompt aid such as calling an ambulance, are at risk due to delayed assistance caused by the escape.

Protecting children from accidents caused by reckless drivers is very difficult. Installing guardrails only in front of schools is not very effective. More thorough measures, such as having school buses for pick-up and drop-off like in the U.S., may be necessary.”

The police are continuing their investigation into the amount of alcohol consumed by the two suspects.