A rafting business manager surnamed Yu (游) was released on bail of NT$100,000 and rafting instructor surnamed Chen (陳) was released without bail today, amid an investigation into a rafting accident this weekend that left one dead and five wounded.
The incident occurred on Yilan County's Annong River (安農溪) on Sunday afternoon, throwing all nine people aboard into the water.
The deceased was a 59-year-old woman, surnamed Chen (陳), who was found unresponsive and rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Photo courtesy of a reader
The woman’s family said that the rafting operator began the trip despite the river’s strong current, and that the coach later noticed a hole in the raft, but still proceeded, prosecutors said.
There was a 30cm tear in the rubber raft, they said, but whether it was caused by something piercing the raft during the trip requires further investigation.
Prosecutors questioned witnesses, rescuers and others involved to clarify the sequence of events.
Yu is suspected of negligent homicide, they said.
Yu said that the passengers were all wearing helmets and lifejackets, and promised to help the victim’s family with the aftermath.
Chen and her family had booked three rubber rafts and set off on the Annong River along with two other rafts at about 1pm on Sunday.
Chen was aboard the second raft, which capsized at about 1:42pm beneath a bridge at the intersection of Section 6, Annong N Road and Ji'an Road in Sansing Township (三星).
Chen drifted 1.7km away before being rescued and was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
Five other passengers sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
It was the most serious accident in the 30-year history of rafting along the Annong River.
The Yilan County Government has temporarily suspended all rafting activities along the river.
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