Three Injured After Boulder Falls on Car
Three people were injured, none seriously, after a large rock hit the roof of a car on the Central Cross Island Highway this afternoon, June 17. One of the injured was a baby girl.
Shortly before 1:00pm, a rock estimated to weigh hundreds of kilograms fell from a slope above the highway on the Deji Reservoir section, and hit an SUV with 5 occupants.
The 39 year-old driver was unscathed but his 34 year-old wife was trapped in the vehicle after the rock landed on the roof above the front passenger seat. The driver of a small truck following behind witnessed the accident and helped the occupants out of the vehicle while calling emergency services.
The truck driver then took the baby girl along with her grandmother and great-aunt downhill to meet the ambulance.
Firefighters used hydraulic shears to cut through the wreckage of the car to rescue the trapped passenger, who suffered a fractured foot.
The infant suffered cuts to her forehead and nose.
Rockfalls are a common hazard in the mountainous areas of Taiwan, especially during wet weather.
The Highway Bureau has temporarily closed the road section while inspections are carried out on the slope.
Related Video
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.