Three Dead in Ruijin Highway Pileup: Distracted Driving in ADAS Mode and Improperly Parked Disabled Vehicle Cause Crash

On October 2, 2025, a serious road traffic accident occurred on the Jiguang Expressway in Ruijin, Ganzhou. A Changan Qiyuan-brand passenger car rear-ended a heavy semi-trailer truck that had stopped in the travel lane due to mechanical failure, resulting in the immediate deaths of three occupants inside the car. At the time of the incident, the car driver, surnamed Zhang, had activated the vehicle’s intelligent driving assistance system and taken both hands off the steering wheel. He failed to notice the abnormal road conditions ahead in time and did not take effective evasive action. The investigation concluded that Zhang’s distracted driving was one of the direct causes of the crash. The driver of the heavy semi-trailer truck, Tan Moubing, operated a vehicle that failed to meet technical safety standards and, after it broke down, neglected to set up required warning signs or promptly alert authorities. These actions were also identified as significant contributing factors to the accident. Zhang died in the crash and is therefore exempt from legal penalties. Tan Moubing has been placed under criminal compulsory measures. The transportation company and repair shop involved are recommended for administrative penalties due to their use of a vehicle with safety hazards and suspected illegal modifications. Additionally, three public officials have been recommended for accountability measures by relevant authorities due to failures in performing their duties.