Two killed three injured on freeway after driver stops in fast lane due to flat tire
Two people died and three were injured after a driver stopped their car in the fast lane on National Highway 1 in Changhua County yesterday, June 27, resulting in a three-vehicle collision.
At around 10:20 pm yesterday evening, a driver named Hsieh with three passengers in a small sedan, was driving in the northbound lanes when one of the tires on her car suddenly burst at the 196 kilometer mark. Hsieh quickly stopped the car in the inner lane.
A male driver named Zhao in a following vehicle was unable to stop in time and slammed into the rear of Hsieh’s vehicle. A third car then rear-ended Zhao’s vehicle.
National Highway Police and Changhua County Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene of the accident, and used hydraulic cutting equipment to rescue the occupants of Hsieh’s badly mangled vehicle.
Two passengers sitting in the rear seat of Hsieh’s car, a 25-year-old man named Liu, and a 27-year-old woman named Liang, were declared dead after arriving at the hospital. Ms Hsieh suffered a neck injury, while a male named Zhang, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of Hsieh’s vehicle, suffered a cervical spine injury. Mr Zhao suffered a facial injury.
Police subjected the three drivers to alcohol breath tests and none were found to be affected by alcohol.
Police reminded the public to keep their vehicles well-maintained, and to check tire tread and tire pressure before driving. If the tires fail, use the turn signal and gradually move to the shoulder of the road before stopping. Then turn on hazard lights and place a breakdown warning triangle 50 to 100 meters behind the vehicle.
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I have no kind words for the driver who stopped suddenly on the highway. (And only mildly gentler angry words for those who tailgate on the highway.)