Five Beers and a Hit-and-Run: The Arrest Excuse of the Suspect Who Injured Four Kids

First, hide the car

According to prosecutors, the dashboard camera recorded the defendant speaking the following words to his passenger immediately after the crash:

“I’ve been drinking, so I need to run.”

“I should just say I don’t understand Japanese.”

On October 30, at the Saitama District Court, the first hearing was held for the defendant, Hongpeng Deng (43), a Chinese national and demolition worker, who is charged with violating the Act on Punishment of Dangerous Driving and other offenses. In May of this year, Deng drove while drinking and collided with a group of elementary school students on their way home from school in Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, injuring four boys—one of whom suffered a fractured right foot.

“Deng admitted to the charges. In court, he apologized, saying, ‘I drank alcohol, became excited, and my judgment was impaired. I regret fleeing.’ The defense argued that settlements had been reached with three of the four injured boys and sought leniency.

On the other hand, prosecutors stated, ‘It was extremely dangerous driving, and his conduct after the accident was malicious.’ They presented dashcam audio in which Deng said things like ‘First, hide the car,’ and requested a sentence of two years and six months in prison.” (National newspaper judicial reporter)

FRIDAY Digital covered the accident immediately after it occurred. Below is a look back at the details of the incident and the defendant’s excuses right after his arrest.

On May 18, Saitama Prefectural Police Yoshikawa Station arrested Deng, who lives in Misato City, for hitting four elementary school students and fleeing (the Chinese male passenger was also arrested). Just before the incident, Deng had reportedly drunk five medium-sized mugs of beer at a nearby Chinese restaurant.

“The accident happened a little after 4 p.m. on May 14. Deng’s luxury SUV collided with a group of about ten elementary school students on their way home. Four boys were injured, and an 11-year-old sixth-grader suffered a serious injury—an avulsion fracture of the top of his right foot.

Although Deng got out of the car briefly, surveillance cameras and multiple dashcams recorded him fleeing without providing proper aid. It was also revealed that he had been drinking for several hours at a Chinese restaurant in Misato since early afternoon. He likely fled the scene to avoid being caught for drunk driving.” (National newspaper social affairs reporter)

An extremely despicable act

Four days after the incident, on May 18, Deng turned himself in at the Yoshikawa Police Station accompanied by an acquaintance. During his transfer to prosecutors the next day, the shaved-headed Deng crouched in the back seat of the police transport vehicle, keeping his face down the entire time. During initial questioning after his arrest, Deng reportedly made the following outrageous excuse and denied fleeing:

“I admit I hit them, but the child (the victim) said ‘I’m okay,’ so I just left the scene.”

Traffic-accident expert journalist Mika Yanagihara explains:

“Drunk driving is, of course, a serious crime. Fleeing the scene afterward (hit-and-run) is an extremely despicable act and carries heavy penalties. A victim whose life might be saved through prompt action—calling an ambulance, providing aid—faces the risk of dying because help is delayed when the driver runs away.

Protecting children from reckless drivers is extremely difficult. Installing guardrails only in front of schools has limited effect. More comprehensive measures—such as using school buses like in the U.S.—may be necessary.”

The trial mentioned at the beginning concluded in a single day. The verdict is scheduled to be handed down on November 13.