Man arrested for lending motorbike to drunk friend leading to deadly crash

By Gia Chinh February 22, 2024 | 04:38 pm PT

Bui Van Tuyen (L) at a police station in Hoa Binh Province for lending his motorbike to a drunk friend, Feb. 21, 2024. Photo by police

Police in the northern province of Hoa Binh have detained a local man who lent his drunken friend a motorbike, leading to an accident that killed the friend and another motorcylist.

Bui Van Tuyen, 23, is facing the charge of "handing over a vehicle to a person who is unqualified to participate in road traffic," to quote the Penal Code.

Police said he had a drink with three friends on the evening of Feb. 3.

Later during the party, he let one of those friends borrow his motorbike to pick up a girlfriend.

The friend then drove the motorbike on the Ho Chi Minh Road, where he collided with another motorbike driver.

The accident killed both motorcyclists.

Test result showed that Tuyen’s friend had 90 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood when the accident took place.

Police determined that Tuyen knew his friend had consumed alcohol and was not qualified to drive a vehicle, but still he gave the friend the motorbike, leading to the tragic accident.

Vietnam imposes an absolute ban of alcohol content in drivers. DUI penalties can include a fine of up to VND40 million (US$1,640) and a two-year license suspension, while those who cause accidents while intoxicated face criminal charges.