Drag race driver arrested in Hangzhou

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-18 17:11

HANGZHOU -- A drag-racing driver at the center of widespread public anger has been arrested on speeding and vehicular manslaughter charges in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, authorities confirmed Monday.

Hu Bin, 20, was arrested Sunday afternoon, a spokesman with the Hangzhou People's Procuratorate said.

The spokesman said the procuratorate received Hangzhou police's application for an arrest warrant on Friday, perused the files and interrogated Hu Saturday.

Hu, a university student, was detained on May 8, a day after he allegedly killed a pedestrian, 25-year-old Tan Zhuo, in downtown Hangzhou. Hu was driving a Mitsubishi sports car and a forensic analysis report showed the speed was between 84.1 km and 101.2 km per hour.

The report, submitted by a group of motor vehicle experts and mechanics from Jilin, Zhejiang, Shanghai and other parts of China, said the car had been refitted to attain higher speed and its engine, exhaust system and tires had all been modified.

The group were invited by Blue Arrow, a forensic analysis group in Hangzhou, according to local police. Blue Arrow was entrusted by police to do the analysis.

"We were convinced that Hu, who was speeding, had violated traffic rules and was fully responsible for the accident," the procuratorate spokesman said.

Hu has come under fierce criticism from the public for drag-racing on the downtown road with a speed limit of 50 km per hour.