Driver faces charges after leaving motorcyclist for dead in central Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Hang, 31, a citizen of Yen Thanh District of Nghe An Province, is facing the charge of “not helping someone in a life-threatening situation” under the Penal Code, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Police said at around 10 p.m. on October 2 last year, Hang stopped her five-seat car on National Highway 1A in Can Loc District of Ha Tinh Province, which neighbors Nghe An, and left the car to do some personal business. There were two others with her in the car.

Nguyen Cong Phuong, 32, a resident of nearby Thua Thien-Hue Province, was driving a motorbike right behind the car, but could not stop in time and slammed into the back of Hang’s parked car.

The collision caused Phuong injuries so severe that he could not move out of the street by himself.

A frightened Hang decided to leave Phuong lying on the street and drove away.

A truck then passed by the area and crushed him to death.

Police and prosecutors said Phuong had made a mistake by failing to keep a safe distance between his motorbike and Hang’s car, which caused the first accident.

They also held the driver of the truck, Tuong Van Danh, 30, accountable for crushing Phuong.

They added that it was Hang who had contributed to Phuong’s death by failing to help him.

Hang told the police that she left the scene “for fear of having to take responsibility.”

According to Vietnamese laws, those who see that another person is in a state of danger to their life, but do not help that person, resulting in that person’s death, are subject to warning, non-custodial reform for up to two years, or imprisonment from three months to two years.

However, if the offender fails to help the victim, or unintentionally causes a dangerous situation, or the person who does not help is someone legally or professionally obligated to help (for example, public security officers or medical workers), they may be sentenced to up to five years of imprisonment.