The families of two people killed in a hit-and-run in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province voiced their discontent Sunday with the announcement that the driver was suffering from a temporary mental disorder.
The 35-year-old BMW driver, Wang Jijin, sped through a red light in Nanjing's Qinhuai district on the afternoon of June 20, hitting a Mazda sedan, a bus and a taxi at about 200 kilometers an hour. Two people in the Mazda were killed on the spot, while the taxi driver was injured.
Wang fled the scene but was later arrested by police and has since been detained for suspected traffic offences.
White powder was found at the scene but local police quickly denied rumors that it was a drug, saying that the substance was corn flour.
Local police said in a statement on Sunday that Wang had exhibited strange behavior before and after the incident. Based on the requirement of the People's Procuratorate of Qinhuai District and the application of the lawyer of Wang's wife, in July Wang was given a forensic examination to see if he was suffering from any mental illnesses.
"On August 31, the Nanjing Brain Hospital confirmed that Wang suffered at the time from acute temporary mental disorder and has limited criminal responsibility," the statement wrote.
The families of the victims told the Nanjing-based Modern Express that they do not accept the examination result and they doubt the hospital could accurately determine Wang's mental condition during the accident weeks later.
Surveillance footage showed that the impact shattered the Mazda sedan.
The two families have filed both criminal and civil suits to the local court.
