Runaway crane on Cross-Island Highway kills two

Two women died after a crane employed on a slope repair project on the Central Cross-Island Highway in Hualien County rolled into vehicles at around noon today, September 10.

Police from Xincheng sub-bureau say that vehicles were stopped at the roadworks section at the 117 kilometer mark of Provincial Highway 8 when the crane hit the cars before crashing through a guardrail and rolling off the road.

According to reports this afternoon, the driver was not in the crane at the time of the accident. The crane had been employed on shotcreting the upper slope. The driver had retracted the boom, and was raising the outriggers of the crane when it suddenly began roll downhill.

Four female occupants of the first vehicle opened the doors and attempted to escape as the crane lumbered towards them. However, a 63-year-old woman and her 38-year-old daughter were run over by the crane.

Ambulances and fire vehicles were dispatched from stations in Nantou County and Hualien County. However, by the time paramedics arrived at the remote location, both women had lost vital signs.

Taiwan English News is an independent publication with no corporate funding. If you found this article informative, and would like to support my work, please buy me a coffee or support me on Patreon. Subscribe to Taiwan English News for free to receive the latest news via email. Advertising queries are welcome. Share, like, comment below.