The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US (TECRO) has pledged to assist with the medical expenses of Taiwanese who were severely injured in a car accident in Colorado on their way to attend a US Air Force Academy graduation ceremony.
US Air Force Academy (USAFA) alumnus Hsu Hao-ming (徐皓明) was involved in a car crash late last month while driving with his mother and grandmother, who were in the US to attend his graduation ceremony, the Republic of China Air Force Academy (ROCAFA) said.
Hsu was selected by the ROCAFA to study in the USAFA.
Photo courtesy of a member of the public
The graduation was scheduled on May 30, but they were involved in the crash on May 25.
Hsu has recuperated after receiving treatment, but his mother and grandmother had to undergo surgeries for their injuries and were admitted into intensive care.
Although they have insurance, receiving medical treatment in the US has incurred a substantial bill for the family.
Hsu comes from a modest family, whose finances are not sufficient to cover the amount of foreign medical bills and the subsequent care his relatives would need upon returning to Taiwan, ROCAFA said in a Facebook post.
TECRO said its military liaison and Denver office director-general Bill Huang (黃世昌) had visited the family in the hospital to provide assistance, adding that it would do all it can to assist Hsu and his family’s medical needs and help with insurance-related matters.
The ROCAFA has also set up a donation fund to help Hsu and his family.
The Taiwanese Association of America Colorado Chapter and the Colorado Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association have established a GoFundMe account to help the family as well.
The GoFundMe statement said that Hsu’s mother and grandmother are “fighting for their lives,” but added that fundraising efforts on the site has already surpassed the “milestone goal” of US$250,000.
As of 9am yesterday, the funds raised had reached US$293,800.
In Taipei, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) on Friday said that the ministry would do its best to assist the family.
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