On the morning of 23/4, the Dak Lak provincial police held a press conference, announcing that on the afternoon of 15/4, Vo Dinh Quang, an 18-year-old 12th-grade student from Phan Dang Luu High School in Pong Drang commune, died after a traffic accident. Quang was driving his motorcycle home after school when he encountered a traffic police patrol team on National Highway 29, heading from National Highway 14 towards Ea Kiet commune, and fled.

At the time of the incident, the patrol team was in the process of identifying and issuing a citation to another motorcyclist for an alcohol violation.

Observing Quang operating his motorcycle at high speed, and suspecting the vehicle had an illegally modified engine, an officer from the patrol drove a specialized motorcycle to follow Quang. When Quang accelerated, the officer, suspecting something unusual, continued the pursuit.

Upon reaching a section of National Highway 29 in Cu Yuot hamlet, Cu Pong commune, Dak Lak province, Quang lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a drainage ditch on the left side of the road. His motorcycle fell onto the road. Seeing this, the traffic police major turned his vehicle around and drove back towards National Highway 14, failing to render aid.

On 18/4, the provincial police issued a decision to temporarily suspend the major from duty to facilitate the investigation. On 23/4, the provincial police issued a decision to strip the major of his public security force title. Concurrently, the provincial police investigation agency initiated criminal proceedings and charged the major with failing to assist a person in life-threatening danger, as stipulated in clause two, article 132 of the Penal Code.

The scene of the accident that killed the 18-year-old male student on the afternoon of 15/4. Photo: Kim Thi

The scene of the accident that killed the 18-year-old male student on the afternoon of 15/4. Photo: Kim Thi

According to police information, at approximately 11h29 on 15/4, Vo Dinh Quang was driving a motorcycle on National Highway 29, heading from National Highway 14 towards Ea Kiet commune. Upon reaching Cu Pong commune, the motorcycle unexpectedly veered into a drainage ditch on the left side of the road. Quang died at the hospital, and the motorcycle sustained severe damage.

Tran Hoa