Chinese dad whose daughter died in crash visits junction daily to catch traffic violators

Wu Zhisheng, a father from southeastern China, has become a daily vigilante in Jiangxi province after his nine-year-old daughter, Zijin, tragically died in a traffic accident. On August 1, his wife was riding an electric bike with their two young daughters through an intersection when a heavily overloaded tipper truck struck them.

Zijin perished at the scene, while his wife and five-year-old daughter suffered injuries. The driver, Zhu, was found at the scene in flip-flops and admitted full responsibility due to the truck being 92% over capacity and having faulty brakes. Wu, disappointed by the authorities' refusal to charge the trucking company or construction contractor without sufficient evidence, has since dedicated himself to monitoring dangerous heavy vehicles around schools and playgrounds.

He has documented over 20 infractions, such as driving against traffic, running red lights, and overloading, which he has shared with traffic police and online. Despite being referred to as a "public-interest whistle-blower" by the media, Wu maintains he is merely an ordinary citizen trying to raise awareness about the dangers of heavy vehicles.

He emphasized that if the driver had come to a complete stop before turning right, his daughter would still be alive. Heavy trucks are responsible for 32% of fatal and injury-causing road accidents in China, primarily due to overloading, speeding, and driver fatigue. Zijin's family received widespread sympathy on social media, with many praising her as a cherished daughter.

Wu plans to file civil suits against Zhu, the truck's insurer, the construction contractor, and the transport firm, seeking compensation for his family's losses.