Biker arrested for fatally running over escort rider of cycling race

Dong Nai police on Wednesday arrested a motorcyclist for running over an outrider who was escorting a cycling race on Sunday, causing fatal multiple injuries.

Ngo Tieu Phung, 22, from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang is being investigated for traffic violations that have caused serious consequences, according to Nguyen Van Tho, spokesperson of Dong Nai province Police Department.

Preliminary investigation found Phung was violating a speed limit when he ran over 53-year-old Lin Ma Sang, who was guarding the Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament on National Highway 20.

The accident happened at around 8:20 a.m., after Sang had collided with his teammate Tran Ngoc Thach and fell down.

As he was lying on the ground, Phung ran over him from behind.

Doctor Nguyen Song Cuu Long of Dinh Quan General Hospital said Sang succumbed to multiple injuries, with heart damage and four broken ribs.

Thach had a broken bone in his left feet while Phung and his co-rider on the same bike suffered minor injuries.

Three of them were discharged on the same day, the doctor said.

An unnamed leader of Dong Nai police was quoted by VnExpress as saying that only the escort riders are allowed to exceed speed limits and travel on the wrong lane under the direction of traffic police.

Any other motorcycle has to follow required speed limits, of 60 kilometers per hour (37 miles per hour) at that section, he said.

Phung was among a group of tourists from An Giang Province who were on a road trip to the Central Highlands on high-capacity motorbikes.

Phung was riding a Honda CB1000 which weighs more than 200 kilograms (441 lbs).

All private motorbikes in Vietnam used to be strictly standard bikes under 175cc, except for those owned by members of government-run motorbike clubs.

The regulation was changed last year, prompting a boom in the local high-capacity bike market.

(Source: TNNews)