Man sentenced to jail in crackdown on drink-driving

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-28 21:47

HANGZHOU: A man has been sentenced to a jail term for causing the death of a 16-year-old girl in east China amid a national crackdown on drink-driving.

Wei Zhigang, 29, responsible for the death of Ma Fangfang on August 4 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison by the Gongsu District Court in the city.

Wei, driving a black Porsche Cayenne SUV hit Ma who was crossing a road. Police detained Wei and gave him a breathalyser test, which was positive.

Wei was driving at a speed between 74 km and 83 km when the accident took place. The speed limit at the site of the accident is 60 km per hour.

The court held Wei was majorly responsible in Ma's death, while Ma herself was partly responsible as she was not on an authorized crossing when the accident took place.

The driver has paid 638,000 yuan (US$93,411) in compensation to the family of the dead girl.

The Ministry of Public Security launched a two-month nationwide campaign against drink-driving on August 15, in the wake of a series of fatal accidents which have sparked public anger against drunk drivers.

Chinese police have caught 25,765 people driving under the influence of alcohol during the campaign.

The ministry says drink drivers will be suspended from driving for three or six months and, in serious cases, detained for 15 days.

If a drink driver is caught twice within a year, his or her license will be revoked for two to five years.