Chaos on the Streets: A Car Crash in Sichuan Spurs Fearful Headlines
In the quiet city of Leshan in Sichuan province, something dark fell out of a car on a Tuesday morning. A vehicle barreled onto the sidewalk, hurling itself into a chaotic mess that left seven people dead and four injured. Local police say the driver’s rampage is under investigation.
A Ripple of Road RIsks Across China
Only a handful of days before this, a driver in Huludao in Liaoning province found himself thrust into the chaotic scene of schoolchildren crossing the street. The incident claimed five lives and left 19 others wounded as the driver “chose his victims at random.”
- The 29‑year‑old driver had reportedly been in a fight with his spouse and contemplated suicide before choosing his unfortunate passengers.
- In Wanzhou, Chongqing, a bus was swerved off a bridge during a confrontation, plunging into the river with about 15 passengers aboard.
- A chongqing bridge crash last month swallowed at least 13 souls for a similar reason, with the driver clash sparking a deadly tumble.
- Back in Hengdong, Hunan, a car struck a crowd in a public square. Police called the driver a “vengeful repeat offender,” armed with knives and drama.
- Shanghai’s gas‑laden van exploded, injuring 18 or more in an accidental blaze that authorities chalked up to a plain “traffic accident.”
- Some incidents have been tied to external pressures: Beijing’s Tiananmen Square tragedy in 2013 blamed militants, and a 2013 vehicle lurch in the capital also had separatist victims.
Why These Tragedies Keep Happening
According to Xinhua, China saw 58,000 deaths from traffic incidents in 2015 alone. Traffic law violations are responsible for nearly 90% of these accidents. When drivers hew away from rules, the chaos becomes brutal and tragic for the public.
Rescue Efforts
After the Leshan collision, emergency teams rushed the injured to hospitals, while search squads launched more than 70 boats to comb the river after the Wanzhou disaster. Had it been a nightmare, scuba divers and even underwater robots joined the mission to locate wreckage and recover bodies.
The Bottom Line
From bus stops to streets and bridges, a cascade of road mishaps has highlighted the need for stricter traffic discipline. While authorities investigate, citizens are urged to remain alert—because on the unexpected side of the lane, a tragedy might lie just around the corner.
