Mickey Huang Denies Hit-and-Run Charges in Court

New Taipei, May 22 (CNA) - Entertainer Mickey Huang, who was indicted for a hit-and-run after a traffic accident last year where a motorcyclist fell, denied the charges in court today, insisting he did not hear any collision. His lawyer claimed the rider fell due to shock, not a collision. According to the indictment, on the morning of August 24 last year, while driving through an intersection in Sanchong District, New Taipei City, Huang suddenly veered right and stopped to let a motorcyclist on his left pass, causing a female motorcyclist surnamed Lin on his right to fall, resulting in abrasions on her face and hands. Huang drove away without stopping to check, leading to his indictment for hit-and-run under the Criminal Code. As for the charge of negligent injury, it was dropped after Lin withdrew her complaint. The New Taipei District Court held a preparatory hearing today, where Huang continued to deny the charges, stating he slowed down and stopped to yield to the other motorcyclist and did not hear any collision. When the judge reviewed the dashcam and intersection surveillance footage, Huang's lawyer argued that the lane was slightly U-shaped and Huang was following the lane, not veering right. The lawyer pointed out that the footage shows Lin's motorcycle emerging from the right side of Huang's vehicle, and Huang braked suddenly to avoid the motorcycle that darted out from the left. Lin fell due to shock, not a collision. Lin also acknowledged in her statement that there was no collision, and both parties have reached a settlement regarding the negligent injury charge, with compensation already paid. The lawyer then requested to subpoena the maintenance records from a Mercedes-Benz service center to prove that Huang's vehicle had no collision dents. The prosecution requested to summon Lin and the other motorcyclist as witnesses. The lawyer agreed to summon Lin but argued that the other motorcyclist had already stated during the investigation that he did not witness the incident, so there was no need to summon him. At the end of the hearing, when the judge asked about his current family financial situation, Huang claimed he was divorced, unemployed, had no income, and had to support his parents and children. When leaving the court, he remained silent when asked by the media, 'If there was no collision, why settle?'