Driver in fatal bus crash charged, released on bail: suspected of speeding

The driver of a tour bus that crashed yesterday, leaving one dead, and 20 injured, was charged with professional negligence causing death, and professional negligence causing injury, and released on bail with a surety of NT$50,000 today, December 1.

See previous article: One dead, 20 injured after bus crash on mountain road

Investigators say that a preliminary investigation points to speed as being the likely cause of the crash. Liberty Times reported that the evidence gathered so far contradicts the driver, Lin Rong-wan’s claim that the brakes on the bus had failed.

Investigators from the Nantou Motor vehicles Office pointed out that long skid marks on the road show that the brakes worked.

The steep downhill section on the access road into Awanda National Forest Recreation Area has a speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour.

The investigation so far suggests that the driver had not shifted to lower gears, but had driven in high gear, depending on brakes to moderate speed. The driver was either unfamiliar with the road conditions, or had bad driving habits, investigators said.

The motor vehicles office also pointed out that the man who was thrown from the bus and killed was not wearing a seatbelt. Whether driving in a car or a bus, drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts.

Vehicle and driver records show that the bus had passed relevant inspections and maintenance requirements, and the driver had not been working overtime.

The vehicle’s data recorder and video records have been seized for further investigation.

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