Hanoi car driver causing deadly crash says he was 'drowsy' after drinking

Le Minh Giap, 41, told police that he had consumed alcohol with friends on Wednesday night before deciding to drive home in his white seven-seat SUV.

Feeling "drowsy," he sped down Nguyen Trac Street toward the Yen Nghia urban area and crashed into multiple vehicles, killing a 41-year-old fruit vendor on the spot.

Le Minh Giap at a police station in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of police

Hanoi police have launched an investigation into Giap for "violating road traffic regulations."

Giap, a university lecturer, is currently in detention and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

A breathalyzer test revealed Giap's blood alcohol concentration at 0.861 milligrams per liter of breath—more than double the maximum threshold for the highest cash penalty under Vietnam's drunk-driving laws, which is 0.4 mg/l.

Le Minh Giap’s car heavily damaged after the crash. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Hai

A 30-year-old woman and her children, aged three and six, were among several others injured. At least eight vehicles, three cars and five motorbikes, were damaged in the incident.

At the scene, the vehicles were found scattered across the road. One black car had overturned, the bed of a roadside pickup was crushed, and debris was strewn along the street. Two motorbikes were thrown more than 100 meters apart.