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Two die as Coast Guard car plunges into Hsinchu valley

Two people died and one was seriously injured when a government car, which had been taken without proper authorization, left a mountain road and plunged into a valley in Hsinchu County on Saturday.

The Coast Guard Administration said yesterday that Major-General Chang Li-ta (張立達), chief of the logistics department of the coast guard, had abused his power by using the government automobile on a personal errand.

Chang's wife and a soldier who was driving the car were killed in the accident. Chang was seriously injured.

The soldier lost control of the car when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction.

The logistics chief has been given a major demerit for his abuse of power which caused the death of two people. He is also to be removed from his post. Chang, now receiving treatment at a military hospital in Taipei, told investigating officials that the trip to the mountain was a private one, the coast guard said.

"Chang was apparently at fault for using the government car for his personal interests. He should be disciplined for it, despite having suffered severe injuries because of the accident," an official with the public relations office of the coast guard said.

"He cannot be forgiven, because he is the chief of the logistics department ... He should know better than anybody else what the rules are for the use of government vehicles," the official said.
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