Couple arrested for assaulting teen after traffic spat in Henan

A middle-aged couple has been arrested after fracturing a 15-year-old girl's orbital bone following a minor traffic collision that escalated into violence in Jiaxian county of Pingdingshan, Henan province, according to an official government statement issued on Tuesday.

The assault occurred at approximately 7:40 pm on Feb 19 outside the Ciba Town Health Center in Jiaxian.

The victim, surnamed Ding, was riding an electric bicycle with her 12-year-old brother when they collided with another electric bicycle operated by a 65-year-old woman surnamed Yang.

A verbal dispute followed, after which Yang contacted her 42-year-old son, surnamed Liu. Minutes later, Liu arrived with his wife. The couple mistakenly believed three bystanders — two women aged 27 and 38, and a 15-year-old boy — had insulted Yang and attacked them.

Upon realizing their mistake, the couple directed their violence toward Ding and assaulted her, the statement said.

A forensic examination conducted last Sunday determined that Ding sustained Grade 2 minor injuries, requiring hospitalization.

Prosecutors have approved the arrest of Liu and his wife, surnamed Han, on charges of picking quarrels and provoking trouble. The couple was criminally detained on Tuesday.

Further investigations are underway.