'Psychotic state' death crash driver sentenced to 11 years

A man who drove seriously over the speed limit, crashing into a car and killing its two occupants, has been sentenced to 11 years in jail by a court in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province.

The accident happened in the afternoon of June 20, 2015, as 35-year-old Wang Jijin drove a BMW illegally across a junction at a speed of almost 300 kilometer/hour, smashing into a Mazda side on, killing the two men inside at the scene.

After the accident, Wang was assessed as being in psychotic state while driving the car. The family of the deceased refused to accept Wang's mental assessment and called for a second opinion which confirmed the diagnosis of a temporary mental disorder.

Both examinations concluded that Wang had limited criminal liability as a result.

Wang's BMW continued to crash into a bus and a taxi; several other cars were damaged to various degrees. Wang managed to escape but was detained by the police a week later.

Wang is judged by the local court to have committed crime against public security.

The presiding judge in the case explained that Wang was not put on trial for causing traffic casualties as he tested free of any alcohol or drugs after the accident. The judge also said the driver, as a local who knew the junction well had no reason to take risks by driving that fast to cross the junction.

However, taking into consideration the serious outcome, and that he had not offered any compensation after crime, Wang couldn't be given a lighter punishment despite his mental condition, added the judge.