Outcry after Chinese woman hit by car, ignored, run over again
Fatal accident in Henan province has reignited the debate on the mainland over the indifference shown by many passers-by to accident victims
A video shared widely in China showing a woman getting knocked down by a car and then hit by another about a minute later after passers-by ignored her plight has reignited debate over Chinese people’s indifference towards helping those in need.
Surveillance footage of the incident in Zhumadian in Henan province was posted on social media on Wednesday. The woman, who was not identified, died from her injuries after the incident in late April.
The footage shows the woman hit by a taxi as she crosses a road.
She falls to the ground and lies motionless for more than a minute as about 30 passers-by, motorcyclists and drivers go past.
Some slow down to take a closer look, but no one approaches her to help.
More than a minute later, a passing four-wheel drive vehicle runs over the woman, before the car comes to a halt, the video shows.
Police told the news website Cover News that the two drivers involved in the accident, whose full names were not given, were under investigation.
The disturbing video stirred up anger online as people criticised the indifference shown by those who saw that the woman had been injured.
Sina Weibo microblogger Yuan Qicong, who posted a video of the incident, wrote: “This video, watching it makes me want to cry, I already have no strength to be angry. The way of life on China’s roads is hell.”
Another person wrote on social media: “God, what is wrong with this society? What would I do if I were at the scene? I would at least first stop all incoming cars, stand near the woman and call the fire station and police.”
Another person said: “So many people were indifferent, not one person called the police.”
The incident reignited the debate in China over the lack of help given to people seen to be in need. Some raised the issue of “scammers” who fake road injuries to get compensation out of motorists and even passers-by who come to their aid.
Videos have previously circulated online showing people putting themselves in the path of vehicles and demanding pay-offs for self-inflicted injuries.
But the fear of road scammers has its costs for the real victims of accidents.
Back in 2011, a two-year-old girl was run over in Foshan in Guangdong province, but at least 18 people passing by ignored her. She later died of her injuries in hospital.
