In Vietnam, woman jailed for 3 years for causing fatal crash after downing 8 cans of beer and driving home

The crash, caused by Le Thi Cam Chi, a resident of Ea Ktur Commune, claimed the life of Le Phuoc Toan, chairman of the People’s Committee of Dray Bhang Commune, who was on duty regulating traffic on National Highway 27.

According to the case file, at around 6:00 pm on October 3, 2025, Chi drove her car to a familiar eatery in Dray Bhang Commune to help prepare food.

Later that evening, she joined the eatery owner and several others for a meal during which she consumed some eight cans of beer.

After 9:00 pm the same day, Chi received a phone call from her mother-in-law informing her that her young child was crying at home.

She then got behind the wheel to return home.

While traveling along National Highway 27 in Hamlet 4, Dray Bhang Commune, Chi failed to maintain proper attention to the road.

Her car struck Toan, who was overseeing traffic flow on a flooded section of the highway.

After the crash, Chi and several bystanders moved the victim to the roadside.

However, she subsequently left the scene, returned home to feed her child, and then left her home.

Authorities said she turned off and discarded her mobile phone in an apparent attempt to avoid contact.

On the morning of October 4, 2025, after learning that Toan had died from his injuries, Chi turned herself in to the police station.

As the alcohol test was conducted long after the accident, no alcohol was detected in her breath at that time.

However, Chi admitted to drinking beer before driving.

Witness testimony and security camera footage from the eatery confirmed that she had consumed around eight cans of beer.

Investigators concluded that Chi had violated Vietnam’s Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol-Related Harm and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

Her actions led to serious consequences, resulting in the death of a local official who was performing his public duties.