Fung Describes Fatal Accident He Caused in 1989

Updated: Watch a video of Fung describing the events that transpired 25 years ago and why he's telling voters about it now.

Cranston Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Allan W. Fung has recounted a tragic accident he caused in 1989 as a college freshman when he crashed on Route 95 and struck a 41-year-old Pawtucket man who later died from his injuries.

In an interview with the Providence Journal, Fung said he wanted to explain what happened to voters because two people approached him and asked about it and "in the world that we live in, with politics, if those two individuals approached me, who knows how many more people might have heard something but are afraid to approach me."

Fung said the incident has shaped who he is as a person and telling the story is difficult. He also said he didn't want to bring up painful memories for the family of the victim, James W. Skipper, who was changing a tire on his car when the accident occurred.

But because he is running for governor, Fung said he wanted to tell the story publicly now because, according to the Journal, "he believes if he does not, someone else will, with the aim of crippling or ending his bid to be Rhode Island’s next governor."

"I trust that the voters, not only of Cranston but people of the state of Rhode Island, have that trust in me and can see that it’s part of me and this is something that is … part of the ups and downs of my life that have made me who I am. And I trust that they’ll understand, hopefully, understand what happened," Fung said.

Fung alerted supporters about the article in an early-morning email on Monday. In it, he said from the day it happened, "I made a commitment to enter public service and improve the lives of others."

"To this day, it is difficult for me to discuss the events of that day. I am deeply sorry for the pain and grief of the family and friends of the man who lost his life," he wrote.

Joyce Strange, Skipper's sister, told the Journal that "it's right" for Fung to try to put the incident behind him.

She said Fung won't ever forget what happened and he's "gone through hell" over it.

"People should not hold that against him," she said.

Fung was charged with driving to endanger, death resulting. He was never indicted by a grand jury and later worked to get the charges expunged from his record.

Here's the e-mail:

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support.

Allan Fung