Driver jailed for hitting 4 pedestrians

A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for injuring four people and causing 270,000 yuan ($44,345) in damages while driving under the influence of methamphetamines, Pudong New Area People's Court said Tuesday.

The defendant, surnamed Xue, was charged with "employing dangerous means to damage public safety," according to a court press release.

Xue injured the four pedestrians on March 30 after his car veered onto the sidewalk and crashed into a store near the intersection of Changqing and Sanlin roads.

Police arrested Xue at the scene, the court said. Later, he tested positive for methamphetamines.

The crash was only the last bit of vehicular mayhem that Xue perpetrated that day. Earlier, he damaged several cars and motorcycles outside the gate of a residential compound.

Xue had gone to the compound to see his uncle, but the security guard refused to let him drive inside because the car did not belong to a resident. As Xue argued with the guard, several vehicles lined up behind. Unable to enter the compound and blocked from behind, Xue tried crashing his way out. He hit several vehicles getting clear, according to the court.

The court said Xue endangered the lives of others by driving under the influence of drugs. However, it chose to give him a lenient sentence because he paid compensation to the victims.