Investigators today determined that the driver of a tourist shuttle bus that plunged into a ravine in Nantou County yesterday afternoon was not drinking, after finding he had a blood alcohol content of zero.
The bus plunged 30m to 40m into a ravine at about noon yesterday, killing one and injuring seven, including the driver.
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, although the 49-year-old driver, surnamed Wang (王), told police immediately after the incident that the bus began accelerating out of control and the brakes were not working.
Photo: Liu Pin-chuan, Taipei Times
He said he tried to steer toward the cliff face in an attempt to slow the speeding vehicle, but was unsuccessful.
The bus then smashed through the outer barrier and fell into the ravine.
Wang remains in intensive care due to a suspected concussion and has yet to give a formal statement to police.
The accident occurred at an elevation of 1,600m near the flower center of the Sun-Link-Sea Forest Recreation Area of Nantou County.
After the incident, investigators from the Nantou District Prosecutors’ Office and the Nantou County Police Department conducted a preliminary investigation.
The electric shuttle bus was recovered from the ravine last night using a crane and transported overnight to the department’s Zhushan Precinct for investigation.
Forensic investigators from the department and personnel from the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board today examined and photographed the vehicle, focusing on the points of impact, the dashboard and the interior and exterior of the vehicle.
The evidence would be submitted to the Nantou District Prosecutors’ Office, police said.
The recreation area has suspended all shuttle bus services until the cause of the crash is determined.
The park said it would offer customers affected by the suspensions an NT$50 refund on their tickets to account for the inconvenience caused.
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