Deal can't bring his son back to life

By Wang Hongyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-21 09:11

SHANGHAI: No amount of money can make amends for Tan Yue, who reached a compensation agreement with the speeding driver who killed his son.

"I don't care about the money. I have lost my son, who was the only hope of our family. What's the use of money if my son has gone?" said the victim's father.

The 1.13 million yuan ($164,800) agreement includes compensation for death, mental suffering and other fees, the victim's lawyer Wei Yongqiang told Xinmin Weekly.

Tan Zhuo, 25, was killed by a speeding Mitsubishi sports car in a downtown Hangzhou crosswalk on the evening of May 7. The young driver's dangerous driving and the reaction of his friends, who joked with each other after the accident, soon sparked public outrage.

"Tan Zhuo could have gone to one of Beijing's universities for study, but he said he liked Zhejiang University, he liked Hangzhou," said his father, who told Xinmin Weekly that he and his wife picked up odd jobs to support their son's education.

He noted the compensation has become nothing less than a warning against dangerous driving, which endangers pedestrians' safety and can devastate their families.

Though the civil suit is now settled, the 20-year-old driver, Hu Bin, still faces charges of speeding and vehicular manslaughter. A forensic report by motor vehicle experts showed the car was traveling between 84 km and 101 km per hour when the accident happened.

The report also said the car had been refitted to reach higher speeds and its engine, exhaust system and tires had all been modified. Hu faces up to seven years in jail if convicted, according to Xinmin Weekly.