Drunk driver crashes truck into house must pay over 1.1 billion VND in compensation

Previously, at about 1:45 a.m. on June 8, 2018, at Km 53+700m of National Highway 48, passing through Sang Le intersection, Hop Tam hamlet, Tam Hop commune (Quy Hop), the tractor truck with license plate 37C - 173.39 was pulling a trailer with license plate 3R - 015.92 of Phu An Company Ltd., driven by Sam Thanh Tu, traveling from Quy Hop town to Nghia Dan, crashed into the houses of 3 households including Tran Ngoc Linh, Mr. Vu Van Minh and Ms. Dau Thi Hang. As a result, some areas of the house and goods were damaged, the car was damaged, and driver Sam Thanh Tu was injured.

Defendant Sam Thanh Tu. Photo: Khanh An

Due to drinking alcohol and not being in control of the steering wheel, driver Tu drove on the wrong side of the road, causing property damage to 3 households and damage to the car, causing damage to Phu An Company Ltd. According to regulations, Phu An Company Ltd. is the owner of the car that caused the accident, so it is required to pay civil compensation to the 3 families of the victims. Before the trial took place, 2 households including Tran Ngoc Linh and Dau Thi Hang had reached an agreement with Phu An Company Ltd., so they were exempted from consideration. Phu An Company Ltd. had to pay civil compensation to Mr. Vu Van Minh's family of more than 913 million VND.

On July 31, 2019, the People's Court of Quy Hop district held a first-instance trial and sentenced Sam Thanh Tu to 4 years in prison for violating regulations on road traffic. Regarding civil liability, the first-instance panel ordered Tu to compensate Phu An Company more than 685 million VND and return more than 420 million VND to Phu An Company. Phu An Company was required to compensate Mr. Minh and Mrs. Anh for damages in the amount of 920 million VND.

At the appeal hearing, Tu could not provide new details for the panel of judges to consider reducing his sentence. Photo: Khanh An

Tu then appealed for a reduced sentence and requested a reduction in compensation. Phu An Company appealed for a reduction in compensation. The victim's family did not file an appeal.

At the appeal hearing, Tu failed to provide new details for the panel of judges to consider reducing his sentence.

After deliberation, the appellate panel rejected the defendant Tu's appeal, partially accepted the appeal of Phu An Company, and sentenced Tu to 4 years in prison for violating regulations on road traffic participation.

Regarding civil matters, the appellate court ordered Phu An Company to compensate Mr. Minh and Mrs. Anh with 876 million VND, deducting 20 million VND already compensated, the remaining amount to be compensated is more than 856 million VND.

Tu is forced to compensate Phu An Company for damages of more than 685 million VND and return to the company more than 420 million VND (this amount the company has paid to compensate Mr. Linh and Ms. Hang's families), the total amount Tu must compensate and return to the company is more than 1.1 billion VND.