Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    SHENZHEN police blamed the March 1 accident that killed nine people and injured 24 others on the overpass that leads to the departure hall of the airport on speeding and inappropriate operation in an investigative report released yesterday.

    Police said the driver, Yang, 24, a native of Shaanxi Province, was driving her red Mercedes-Benz sedan at 97.8 kilometers per hour, almost double the speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour on the overpass, before plowing into a group of people lining the overpass to see planes take off at Shenzhen International Airport.

    Five were killed at the scene and four others, including Yang, were rushed to the hospital, where they all died.

    Yang, a graduate of Chong-qing University with three years of driving experience, didn’t attempt to save others after the accident as local media had reported earlier, citing witnesses. Instead, according to police, Yang climbed over the fence and fell from the overpass, in what appears to be a suicide attempt. She had come to Shenzhen in February 2014 and was operating an online shop in Shajing Subdistrict, Bao’an District, before her death.

    The report, which included questioning of 35 witnesses and examination of more than 100 pieces of evidence, showed that traffic at the airport on that day was normal and that there were no other cars following Yang’s car closely. Police ruled out the possibility that Yang had become panicked by other motorists honking their car horns from behind, as Yang’s boyfriend Wu had told local media previously.

    Yang and Wu, 31, a native of Chongqing, were on their way out of the city when the tragedy happed at 3:30 p.m. Instead of driving to the parking lot, Yang drove her car to the overpass. Because she was speeding, she lost control after scraping along a fence, leading to the tragedy.

    Surveillance footage showed that Wu didn’t disrupt Yang’s driving. Police said Yang should bear the full responsibility of the accident.

    Among the victims, 18 are still receiving treatment. They are all in stable condition.