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April 21, 2011

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Van crash victim waits for redress

A FAMILY in Hebei Province is still awaiting compensation from a county government more than two years after a van taking officials to lunch struck their 16-year-old son, resulting in serious brain damage.

Li Xiaolin was hit by a government issued van which ran a red light on March 9, 2009. The van carried government officials including the chief of Xingtai County in Hebei. The van was escorted by police cars, China Youth Daily reported yesterday.

Gu Pengtu, then acting county chief, was accused of being indifferent to the victim after he got out of the van and walked away after Li was sent to a hospital, according to a video clip taken by a surveillance camera. A man was even seen using cloth to cover the van's license plate.

Li was unconscious for 12 days after the accident. He didn't recognize his mother or remember what happened the day of the accident when he regained consciousness. He returned to school six months later and was sent to a lower grade due to his mental problems. The family went into debt due to mounting medical expenses.

Under regulations, police cars can only be used to escort government vehicles for important government activities involving ministry level officials. The police car clearing the way for the van violated rules, the report said.

It was later learned the van was taking government officials to lunch.

Ma Xilin, deputy director of the publicity department of Xingtai County government, confirmed Gu was in the van and on his way to a lunch appointment. But the county government didn't know who arranged the police car, Ma told the newspaper.

Traffic police ruled the driver was fully responsible for the accident.

"The county government paid 144,000 yuan to cover Li's hospital bills, but didn't pay compensation for mental damage, follow-up treatment and other expenses," Zhou Ruiliu, the boy's mother, told the newspaper.

Li Jianxi, the teen's father, and his wife lodged a complaint with the petition authority of Hebei Province, and the county government agreed to pay more than 400,000 yuan compensation and provide medical treatment for their son at the end of 2010.

As of February, they had not delivered on the promise, the report said.

Li Jianxi hired a lawyer, seeking a total of 1.29 million yuan in compensation. But the request was put aside as the two parties disagreed about treatment plans.

Now the family is suing the Xingtai County government.




 

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