A Drunk Driver In China Rushes A Bus Full Of Passengers To The Reservoir Because His House Is Displaced By Construction

JAKARTA - A bus driver got drunk and deliberately plunged the bus full of passengers he was driving into a reservoir in southwest China. The driver was in a state of confusion after finding out that his house was destroyed.

Launching CNN, Tuesday, July 14, 21 people were reported killed and 15 others injured. Police in Anshun City, Guizhou, explained that the bus veered across five lanes, hitting a safety fence. Part of the bus body sank.

There are 12 students on the unlucky bus. Five of them died, according to state media. The students are rumored to be taking a college entrance exam known as gaokao, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. The driver, surnamed Zhang, was among those killed.

"Zhang is unhappy with the circumstances of his life and with the destruction of his rented public house. For your information, he has committed an extreme criminal act," said a statement from the Anshun Police.

According to the police, Zhang used to start his working hours during the day. However, on July 7, he asked another driver if he could start his working hours earlier. Right after 9am, he bought a bottle of baijiu, a strong Chinese alcoholic drink, then poured it into a plastic drink container.

Hours later, just before the accident, Zhang sent a voice message to his girlfriend on a messaging app. He expressed feeling tired of facing problems in the world.

Shortly before riding the bus to the reservoir, Zhang was seen drinking from a plastic container in the driver's seat. At least 200 milliliters of baijiu were found in the vicinity of the accident.

Chinese state-run media said Zhang had been given rental property while he was working at a diesel engine factory in the Xixiu Anshun District. According to the police, he hasn't lived there for quite a while.

Zhang knew the house was marked for demolition as part of a slum city reconstruction project. He has applied for compensation and new housing. However, he was offered compensation of US $ 10,360. He didn't claim it and refused new accommodation.

On the day of the accident, Zhang learned that her home had been destroyed. Forced demolition of housing to make room for new construction is common in China, especially for people living in less developed areas or in rural areas. This process sometimes leaves old residents homeless and unable to pay for expensive new housing.