An off-road self-driving event took the lives of two children.
At around 3 pm on August 4, a red Jeep Wrangler carrying 5 people accidentally rolled down the hill while climbing the "Heroes Slope" in Laozhanggou, a well-known "off-road holy land" in Guyuan County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. According to the Propaganda Department of Guyuan County Party Committee, the accident caused two minors in the car to be unfortunately killed, and two adults and one minor in the car were injured to varying degrees.
was a happy summer trip. Why did this prairie crossing journey turn into a tragedy?
climbing the hill in the rain
caused two deaths and three injuries tragedy
"Brake, brake, oh my..." A video circulating online records the scene when the vehicle rolled down the hill on August 4.
The photographer was one of the members of the self-driving tour team who was traveling with him. He was standing on the slope of the heroes to shoot down the slope. The video shows that the car was on light and climbing up the slope in the rain, and then it was slipping back. Not far away, a suspected commander shouted to the vehicle. At the same time, the video was filled with shouts of "braking and braking" from people around him. In the video, the owner of the car is Mr. Wu, the owner of the car. His wife, Ms. Zhang, was sitting in the passenger seat. The back row are two daughters and a nephew. The vehicle is a newly bought Jeep Wrangler a few months ago.
According to Ms. Zhang's recollection, there were nine cars and one support car in the team. They were the third hill climbing car in the team. The first one climbed up was the leader's car, and the second one was the gray car. "Before we climbed the hill, the team leader did not conduct training, nor did they tell everyone how to climb the hill."
In Ms. Zhang's impression, the team leader once encouraged her husband before climbing the hill, saying, "It's okay to climb your car," but the specific climb was not clear. "It was not until we were about to climb the hill that my husband asked the team leader what gear he should use, and the team leader told him through the intercom."
Then, the car began to move forward in a rainy day and began to slide down when driving to the middle of the mountain. The car rolled down the mountain, and the 15-year-old eldest daughter and 14-year-old nephew were unfortunately killed. Ms. Zhang and her husband and wife were injured to varying degrees.
At present, the couple is hospitalized in Beijing for treatment. Mr. Wu is seriously injured and has undergone three surgeries. The youngest daughter has injured both legs and is currently being cared for and treated by relatives in Texas .
modification store and 4S store jointly initiated
car owners paid the fee and embarked on a journey
The incident occurred in Laozanggou, a well-known attraction in the off-road circle. Laozanggou is located in Guyuan County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. The "Haohan Pond" can be called a "famous slope" in the circle and is a check-in holy place for off-road enthusiasts.
There is an off-road expert in the automobile forum to evaluate Heroes: It is covered with various gravels of various sizes, and there are two oblique grooves in the middle. When the vehicle passes here, it must form two cross-axis . In addition, it is still in a high-angle climbing state. Here, all cars will face the most severe test, and the strength of off-road capabilities will directly reflect the difference.
Mr. Wu introduced that shortly after he picked up the new car in July, he saw a notice on the "Doron Noel Prairie Self-Driving Tour" event held by Runhua Jeep Hanting Store and " Weifang Top Fire Off-road Modification". The registration information of
reads: This self-driving tour is a light crossing route and lasts 5 days. After gathering, we set out to Chicheng County, Hebei Province for rest and enjoy the scenery along the way. Then he traveled to Sandaochuan to observe the beautiful rivers and mountains of the motherland. Then he rushed to Laozhanggou, known as the "extreme off-road town", and climbed to the top of the Heroes Slope... Before registering, Mr. Wu asked the event organizer: "Are there many difficult sections to walk on? I have no experience in off-roading." The other party replied: "Not many, just one or two places, you can go through..." "As long as you listen to the command of the team leader, it's absolutely..." Mr. Wu decided to lead his family to experience a self-driving journey.
"Top Fire Off-Road Modification" staff gave the required fee: "There are five people in total, and one child does not occupy a bed and charges 500 yuan, and the others are 1,800 yuan, totaling 7,700 yuan." Judging from the payment chat records, Mr. Wu handed the money to a person in charge of "Weifang Top Fire Modification".
htmlOn August 3, Mr. Wu drove the newly bought off-road vehicle , took his wife, daughter and nephew to gather with the convoy at the Jeep Hanting Store in Runhua, Weifang, and then set off.activity has no requirements for driving age and age
In the early stage, it also organized similar activities
A summer tour but caused such an accident, which no one expected.
The boy who encountered misfortune is 14 years old this year, just graduated from elementary school, and is about to enter junior high school in September this year. "Didn't have time to play with your children during the summer vacation. I heard from my child's aunt (Ms. Zhang) that there is such a self-driving tour on the prairie, and we just want to let the children go and play with you." The boy's mother, Ms. Yu, said that no one could predict an accident, but Weifang Runhua Jeep Hanting Store and "Tinghuo Off-Road Modification" did not inform the risks in advance. "If you know there is a danger, it is impossible to take the children to participate."
The screenshot of the group chat "August 3rd Ulan Butong Prairie Self-Driving Tour" provided by Ms. Zhang shows that the staff of Weifang Dinghuo Off-Road Modification Club once said in the group that the event is "no difficulty and viewing". A self-driving car owner in asked: "Is it okay to take care of a little kid over two years old?" The staff replied, "Yes, no problem."
Although the organizer repeatedly stated that it was "no difficulty" before departure, a series of "disclaimers" were mentioned in the initial self-driving tour registration information: There are many uncontrollable factors for the off-road crossing self-driving event, please choose to participate based on your physical strength, experience and equipment; choosing to participate in the event means that the applicant has made reasonable judgments and agreed to bear all risks of the off-road crossing event, including the risk of using transportation and other third-party facilities; for possible accidents during the event, it is an unpredictable or unavoidable safety accident, and the team leader and the organizer shall not bear the responsibility for this; everyone participating in the event must purchase travel insurance.
Self-driving tour enthusiast Li Gang also participated in a self-driving tour event jointly initiated by Runhua Jeep Hanting Store and Weifang Dinghuo in July this year. The route is the same as that of Mr. Wu. He said that when he participated in the event, he was 1,600 yuan per person. "They care about food and accommodation, and they drive by themselves, and they bear the other expenses themselves."
Ms. Zhang once said that the organizer did not provide systematic training and risk notifications to participating car owners before the event began. This statement was confirmed by a self-driving enthusiast who had participated in the event.
"Before going uphill, the organizer will teach you where to go and what gear to hang." But before the fleet sets off, the organizer will not conduct systematic training for all members. Whenever he arrives at a scenic spot, he will only explain the driving skills when climbing the hill through the walkie-talkie. Moreover, the reporter learned from the self-driving enthusiast that this is not the first time the organizer has organized an off-road self-driving event. The enthusiast followed them to drive to "Haohanpo" in July.
In the registration information for this event, it was mentioned that the need to prepare tools such as tow ropes, shovels, and clothes, food, etc. The event was equipped with 1 after-sales support staff and 2-3 team leaders, but it was not mentioned that the restrictions on driving and passengers' driving age, age, off-road knowledge, etc. In the final roaming fleet, the youngest member was only 2 years old, and the oldest was 67 years old.
"That road is full of gravel roads, and there is a shell crater in the middle. The slope is about 45 degrees, which is difficult for novices." Li Gang is a senior self-driving tour enthusiast with 20 years of experience. According to his recollection, when he checked in the Heroes Slope before, the vehicles with the same vehicles had top-equipped off-road vehicles, but they all stopped at the Heroes Slope, and returned to the highway on the same road and went to the next point to meet.
Li Gang said that he didn't think it was so dangerous. After this accident, he would definitely not be able to go to these places, "Even if there is a little danger, it's not OK."
accident is still being handled and confirmed.
activity initiator did not respond.
Regarding the accident, the Propaganda Department of Guyuan County Party Committee of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province responded on the 18th: "The accident is being handled and confirmed, and a specific reply will be made later."
htmlOn August 18, the reporter contacted Wang Kai from the organizer "Weifang Dinghuo Off-road Modification" and Daling from the Weifang Runhua Jeep Hanting Store, but the phone was not connected."Weifang Tophuo Off-road Modification" A staff member named "Father" said: "I didn't participate in this matter and don't know what's going on." htmlOn 18, the reporter came to the Jeep Hanting Store in Runhua, Weifang. According to the clerk, the Wrangler brands sold in the store include two models: Sahara and Robin Hood. The Sahara is suitable for desert off-roading and Robin Hood is suitable for rock climbing off-roading. The accident vehicle belongs to the latter and the price is 559,900 yuan. The owner of the accident picked up the car in the store in March this year.Marketing Manager Wang Lingling said that the event organization counts the number of participants through a series of activities. In addition, accommodation fees, catering fees, insurance fees, etc. are all AA systems, and the fees paid in the group are refunded or compensated. This time, I went to a total of nine cars and added one guaranteed car.
"We just sent a message in the group, whoever goes, will be the one who is in the group. This time the initiator is the 'horse owner' (Wifang Dinghuo Off-road Modification Wang Kai). "Wang Lingling said, "We are also very sad when something happens. Now the public security department has intervened, and we will actively cooperate."
On the morning of 19th, the reporter came to the China Dinghuo Weifang Car Association. The car association is located in the path next to the OnePu Gas Station on Bohai Road. There are publicity decorative panels such as "China Dinghuo", "Weifang Horse Gang", and "Runhua Jeep Legion" on the exterior wall. When entering the modification workshop, several personnel are still working normally. A female staff member said: "Wang Kai just went out and I can't contact you either. If you have any questions, please contact yourself."
19 On the afternoon of 19th, the reporter called Wang Kai, who was "Weifang Top Fire". Wang Kai said that he was not the organizer of the event: "We all play this car, just everyone goes together." He said that before leaving, he had done safety explanations and training. Regarding questions such as "having organized similar activities before, whether you know Mr. Wu's driving level and whether you have received risk reminders", Wang Kai said that he had made a record at the police and would wait for the police to respond.
The reporter consulted lawyer Wang Jianhua of Weifang Wang Yang Law Firm on the matter that day. Lawyer Wang said: "If the event organizer fails to fulfill his obligations in risk warning, safety training, road inspection and other aspects, he will bear the main responsibility."
Source: Qilu Evening News reporter Wang Lin Li Xuxu
Source: Qilu Evening News
