A 78-year-old man surnamed Yu (余) who drove into multiple pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽) last month had a “deliberate intent to ram” into them, the Sansia precinct of the New Taipei City Police Department said on Wednesday.
On May 19, Yu drove at high speed through the Bei Da Elementary School zone, where his car struck pedestrians — killing three and injuring 12 — before crashing into a concrete barrier.
He died of multiple organ failure at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital 12 days later.
Photo: Wu Jen-chieh, Taipei Times
Investigators examined surveillance footage and dashcam videos, and conducted on-site inspections, forensic mapping and analysis of the vehicle driven by Yu, the precinct said.
After reviewing the evidence, a task force determined that Yu intended to crash into people based on his speed and the absence of skid marks on Guocheng Street, the precinct said.
The case has been transferred to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on suspicion of four offenses, including homicide, the precinct said.
The precinct expressed “the deepest sorrow and regret” over the casualties, and said it would assist victims and their families.
Although Yu is dead, victims may pursue civil damages from the suspect’s heirs, the office said.
The case must still be transferred to prosecutors, as police do not have the authority to close the case, it said, adding that the Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法) states that if a suspect dies during the investigation, prosecutors will issue a non-prosecution decision.
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) on Monday said that “the city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation.”
The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families.
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