Six youths killed in Single-vehicle accident in Tainan City

Six people aged 16 to 22 died after an unlicensed driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed at high speed in Tainan City last night, February 1.

At 11:55 pm, the overloaded car was crossing a bridge on Taijiang Avenue when it is suspected of going airborne after hitting a slight hump caused by an expansion joint on the bridge. The car then crashed into a factory gatehouse.

Traveling in the car were three young couples: the driver Wang Lijie, 22, his girlfriend Wei Liru, 20, 21-year-old male Liao Yujie and a 16-year-old female named Huang, a 16-year-old female named Luo, and an 18-year-old male named Yang.

A pet dog was also killed in the accident.

All six occupants had lost vital signs by the time paramedics from the Tainan City Fire Bureau arrived at the scene.

Police said at a press conference today that the driver was unlicensed and had borrowed the car from a friend. The car was also illegally overloaded and was speeding at the time of the crash. Police pointed out that the car owner will be liable to a fine of between NT$6,000 and NT$12,000 for lending the car to an unlicensed person.

Lawyer Shao Yunliang was quoted in an Apple Daily report saying that if a person driving without a license causes death in a car accident, both the driver and the person who lent the car to the unlicensed are criminally liable for “death by negligence.”

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.