The driver involved in a New Taipei City car crash that killed three people and injured several died of his injuries yesterday morning after about two weeks in intensive care, a local hospital said.
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, where the 78-year-old man surnamed Yu (余) was treated, said that he died of multiple organ failure after several surgeries.
The hospital said it notified the authorities of Yu’s death.
Photo: Wong Yu-huang, Taipei Times
Yu ran a red light at high speed in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽) on May 19, hitting several pedestrians and scooter riders near an elementary school.
Two of the people killed in the crash were female students in their teens and the other was a woman in her 40s.
Another 12 people, including Yu, were injured, with most of them being students.
Police had been waiting to question the driver, but he remained unconscious until he died.
Forensics reports, surveillance and dashcam footage, witness statements, and reports from the Transportation Safety Board would all be transferred to prosecutors, police said.
The New Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office said that it would arrange for an autopsy on Yu as soon as possible and close the case.
The incident prompted a public outcry about Taiwan’s driver’s license tests and traffic safety failures.
Critics say the requirements for renewing driver’s licenses, especially for elderly people, are too lax and accident-prone traffic spots are not dealt with efficiently.
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