Drunk driver detained after filing false accident report

A man has been detained for filing a false traffic accident report to police after drunk driving, authorities said on Tuesday.

The man surnamed Zhang notified the Yongfeng Police Station in Songjiang District at 10am on August 2, saying that he accidentally drove his car into a lamppost on Yonghang Road near Jinyu Road.

However, after checking surveillance camera footage from the scene of the alleged accident, police claim they saw Zhang enter the car, which was already parked near the lamppost, only to drive directly into the obstacle.

When questioned by police, Zhang allegedly confessed that he actually hit the lamppost earlier that morning while driving drunk.

Zhang was found to have struck the lamppost at 3am, but didn't call the police at that time for fear of being caught driving drunk, according to authorities. Police say Zhang made the false report in order to collect insurance money.

Zhang will be detained for 10 days, police said.