A deeply disturbing case from southeastern China has shocked the nation after authorities confirmed that a father orchestrated the death of his seven-year-old son in a staged road accident to fraudulently obtain insurance money.
New details released by the Fujian Provincial Court reveal that the incident occurred in October 2020 in Sanming City. The father, identified as Zhang, had been experiencing ongoing marital conflicts, including disputes over finances and alleged infidelity. Investigators say anger and resentment drove him to plot the murder of his child in an attempt to claim insurance benefits for himself.
According to court findings, Zhang colluded with his cousin — a truck driver whose vehicle was insured under two major policies. On the day of the crime, Zhang parked his car by the roadside with his son inside, then instructed the boy to step out and stand beside the vehicle. Moments later, the cousin deliberately drove his truck into the child and the vehicle, killing the boy instantly.
When police arrived, Zhang pretended to be devastated, cradling his son’s body and insisting it was a tragic accident. His cousin also claimed the crash occurred because he was distracted by his mobile phone. Both men hid the fact that they were related.
Months after the staged accident, Zhang collected an insurance payout of 180,000 yuan (US$25,000), sharing 30,000 yuan with his cousin.
The conspiracy began to unravel when authorities discovered the cousin had forged his transport qualification certificate, making him an unlicensed driver. As a result, the insurer rejected the claim and the financial liability shifted to the truck’s registered owner, Luo, who later alerted police after learning that another acquaintance had prior knowledge of Zhang’s plan.
Acting on these disclosures, investigators opened a fresh probe and eventually arrested both Zhang and his cousin. The court has now sentenced the cousin to death with a two-year reprieve and imposed a fine of 30,000 yuan. Zhang himself has received a death sentence, currently pending appeal.
The case has triggered widespread public outrage across China, with social media posts related to the incident generating over 32 million views, reflecting the country’s shock over the brutality of the crime and the betrayal of parental trust.