Cranky retiree bricks cars to defend pedestrian walkway
A retired teacher, who sparked nationwide controversy by throwing bricks at cars that ran red lights defended his actions saying he was protecting pedestrians.
Yan Zhengping, 74, became an Internet sensation after he lobbed bricks at 14 cars at an intersection over more than three hours Thursday evening, witnessed by many people in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China’s Gansu Province.
“I know it is illegal, but I had to do it to raise awareness on the safety of pedestrians,” said Yan.
Yan acted after a young man was killed on a crosswalk by a speeding motorist in an illegal drag race in the downtown area of the eastern Hangzhou City. The driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter…
Hundreds of local residents applauded him and two elderly men joined him in throwing bricks, while others found them more bricks and brought them water.
All 14 drivers fled the scene with their damaged cars after seeing the angry crowd.
Police stopped Yan more than three hours after he started. He was interviewed and later released without charge.
Internet polls don’t mean much – depending as they do upon whoever feels like responding to the topic. Still, at China’s major websites, a majority of netizens supported Yan. In one poll, 260,000 of 330,000 respondents supported him.
