TAOYUAN CITY, Taiwan (October 16, 2025)— A tragic accident in Zhongli District claimed the life of a 66-year-old man surnamed Chen, who was fatally struck by a Tonglian bus while crossing the street earlier this month. His family held a funeral today, with his son expressing grief and anger over what he described as the driver’s failure to stop in time.
According to the Zhongli Traffic Squadron, the incident occurred at around 4:00 p.m. on October 7 at the intersection of Rongmin South Road and Jinyuan Road. The bus, driven by a 58-year-old man surnamed Yan, was making a left turn from Jinyuan Road onto Rongmin South Road toward Renci Road when it hit Chen, who was crossing the street in the designated pedestrian lane.
Emergency responders rushed Chen to the hospital, but he was later pronounced dead due to severe injuries.
Police confirmed that Yan tested negative for alcohol, but he is now under investigation for manslaughter. Authorities said the exact cause of the accident remains under review.
Family’s Grief and Accusations
At today’s funeral, Chen’s son recounted that his father had gone to a nearby supermarket before the accident. He accused the bus driver of failing to notice pedestrians and not stopping immediately after the initial impact, which allegedly caused the bus to run over his father before coming to a halt.
While the Tonglian Bus Company has expressed condolences, offered funeral assistance, and sent representatives to the memorial service, Chen’s son said the tragedy could have been prevented. He urged authorities to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection, noting that the crossing time for pedestrians is too short and that the sidewalk space is insufficient.
Possible Cause of Accident
Initial findings suggest that Yan did not yield to pedestrians as required. Investigators also noted that the sun’s glare may have contributed to reduced visibility at the time of the incident. Reports indicate Yan was wearing sunglasses and moving from a brightly lit area into a shaded one, which may have obscured his view of the crosswalk.
After the collision, Yan reportedly failed to apply the brakes immediately, causing the victim to be dragged from the front to the rear of the vehicle.
Police Action
Authorities said the traffic signs at the intersection were clearly visible, ruling out design flaws as a factor. Police added that Yan would face charges of manslaughter and, under Taiwan’s Road Traffic Management Penalty Regulations, will have his driver’s license revoked for failing to yield to a pedestrian and causing death.
Chen’s family hopes the incident will prompt stricter traffic enforcement and improvements in pedestrian safety to prevent similar tragedies in the future.