Chinese Leaders Reel From Scandal

A speed-demon playboy may have caused big trouble for China’s leaders. The state-run media have tried to bury a fatal March car accident involving the 23-year-old son of influential presidential adviser Ling Jihua. Two women, one of whom later died, were in a black Ferrari with the young man when it spun out of control and crashed. Censors have had little luck squashing the story on social-media outlets, and officials seem to fear that the fast-life tale from the upper echelon of China’s gilded ultra elite may do permanent damage to the circle that surrounds President Hu Jintao.