In a Tragic Incident in Downtown Chengdu, a Car Indiscriminately Struck Pedestrians, Resulting in Over Ten Casualties

(Image source: netizen video screenshot)

[People News] On the afternoon of May 1, a shocking event unfolded in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, when a vehicle began to hit pedestrians without warning. A car suddenly accelerated and crashed into people crossing the road in a busy urban area. The driver continued the assault as if hunting for prey, subsequently colliding with an electric vehicle at high speed. The assailant was eventually forced to stop, still wielding a sharp knife. Witnesses reported that the incident left more than ten people dead or injured, creating a horrific scene.

The vehicle loses control and recklessly hits pedestrians

According to multiple videos shared by Chengdu netizens on platform X, around 5 PM on May 1, a pink-silver sedan waiting at a red light in the inner lane near the Yintai City business district on Tianfu Fourth Street in Chengdu High-tech Zone suddenly accelerated and made a right turn, crashing into a large group of pedestrians crossing the road, causing many to fall.

The footage reveals that at least six individuals fell to the ground as a result of the crash, with witnesses indicating that children were among the victims, making the scene particularly distressing.

After fleeing the initial scene, the vehicle continued to speed down the road, attacking pedestrians as if searching for prey, reportedly travelling at least another two kilometres and “hitting anyone in sight.” Additional videos show that the car later drove against traffic onto the sidewalk, then reversed and collided with an electric vehicle carrying two people, one of whom was thrown to the ground, while the other was pushed along with the electric vehicle.

Witnesses stated that the offending vehicle was ultimately stopped by several courageous drivers. After exiting the car, the assailant was seen holding a sharp knife and talking on his phone, which was a chilling sight.

Following the exposure of this indiscriminate attack that resulted in numerous casualties by netizens, the Cyberspace Administration of China swiftly removed all related images and information from social media. This action has led to widespread dissatisfaction among mainland netizens, with many continuing to post in protest, condemning the authorities for trying to cover it up.

Police have classified the incident as a "traffic accident."

On the evening of May 1 at 8:50 PM, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the Chengdu Public Security Bureau's Traffic Management Bureau announced that a "road traffic accident" occurred at 5:20 PM on May 1 on Jianan Avenue in the High-tech Zone.

Image source: WeChat Public Account · Chengdu Public Security

According to the announcement, preliminary investigations revealed that a 31-year-old man surnamed Li was driving a small car and, while making a right turn at the intersection of Jianan Avenue and Tianfu Fourth Street, "collided with a pedestrian." Following this, Li fled the scene and, during his escape, collided with other vehicles and pedestrians. The accident resulted in one fatality and 11 injuries of varying severity. All injured individuals have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The announcement stated that the driver, Li, was apprehended at the scene after the incident. Preliminary investigations indicate that Li is suspected of "hit-and-run." Tests have ruled out any suspicion of drunk driving or drug driving.

According to The Dajiyuan, local residents interviewed expressed: "People were thrown (hit) away; how could only one person die? All the videos we posted have been deleted. Such incidents cannot be reported widely, and it does not mention intentional (hitting people). From our perspective, it appears to be intentional; the authorities are afraid (to report truthfully) of the negative social impact!

There have been reports from the public stating, 'When I left, he was forced to stop at Yintai City, and it seems he hit nearly twenty people. There were definitely more than one who died on the spot. The first wave of those struck at the crosswalk was estimated to be around seven or eight, and later, I calculated that from the crosswalk to the overpass, there were four or five individuals who were thrown several dozen meters away. I find it hard to believe that those who were thrown that far could still be alive. The official figures are suppressed; who would dare to disclose the actual numbers?' 

It is rumoured that the perpetrator is a ride-hailing driver who retaliated against society because his company refused to refund his deposit. 

According to The Dajiyuan, a local resident disclosed that the driver involved in the incident is a ride-hailing driver. This resident remarked, 'It's so heartless. He is retaliating against society because the platform offers low fares.' 

Other locals mentioned, 'It is said that a Didi driver was cheated, and then he came out to take revenge on society.' 'I heard it was a Didi driver whose deposit was not refunded; it seems this was shared among the driver community.' 

A netizen commented in the discussion section: 'This is a ride-hailing driver who didn't make any money and retaliated against society, hitting a total of 13 people, with 6 dead and 7 injured.' 

Another netizen stated in a group chat: 'He (the driver) rented a car from a leasing company, went to return it, but it wasn't time yet, and he was close to the time. The leasing company didn't refund the deposit, so he got angry and then went out without thinking, just drove the car down and crashed it, hitting people.' 

Experts say: Under the tyranny of the CCP, the people are struggling to survive.

Analysts indicate that the deliberate car-ramming incident in the Chengdu High-tech Zone is not merely an isolated public security case, but rather a direct result of escalating social tensions under the oppressive rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The harsh exploitation and stringent control characteristic of a totalitarian regime have drastically limited the living space of ordinary citizens, erasing basic human rights and survival guarantees. This dire situation, where 'the people are struggling to survive,' has brought society to the brink of collapse.

In contemporary China, those in power have engineered a profoundly unjust wealth distribution system that allows 'the elite to amass wealth while ordinary citizens are left to suffer.' Countless individuals at the lower rungs of society are grappling with despair due to bankruptcy and unemployment. Simultaneously, the CCP has effectively shut down all channels for judicial recourse and freedom of expression, transforming society into a 'live volcano' that could erupt at any moment. When a regime not only strips its citizens of their livelihoods but also denies them the right to express their pain, it is essentially nurturing its own grave diggers. The bloodstains on the streets of Chengdu, the silence on social media, and the desperate cries of countless marginalised individuals represent the final 'tremors' before this 'live volcano' erupts.
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