The drag-racing driver who killed a pedestrian in downtown Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, was sentenced to three years in prison Monday on charges of vehicular manslaughter.

The driver Hu Bin, 20, has already paid 1.13 million yuan (US$165,396) in compensation to the family of the victim, before the Xihu district court in Hangzhou handed down the sentence.

He violated traffic regulations and caused the death of Tan Zhuo by speeding on May 7, according to the court.

Hu has come under fierce criticism from the public for drag-racing on the downtown road with a speed limit of 50 km per hour.

He was driving a Mitsubishi sports car and a forensic analysis report showed his speed was between 84.1 km and 101.2 km per hour.

It was not known whether Hu plans to appeal or not.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2009)