A 67-year-old Singaporean grandmother was seriously injured after she was hit by a bus and trapped beneath it while on a family holiday in Taiwan on Wednesday, 16 September.
The accident happened at about 11.11am at the junction of Minsheng Road and Ziyou Road in Taichung’s West District. The woman was crossing at a pedestrian crossing when a Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport bus making a right turn struck her.
She became trapped beneath the bus and suffered cardiac arrest.
Emergency responders managed to free her before taking her to China Medical University Hospital, where her vital signs were restored. As of the night of 16 September, Taiwanese media reported that she remained seriously injured and had not yet been declared out of danger.
Woman Was Travelling With Eight Relatives
The woman was travelling in a group of nine Singaporeans, which reportedly included her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.
According to Taiwanese reports, the family had arrived in Taiwan on 15 September for an eight-day self-guided holiday in Taichung. The accident happened on the second day of their trip as the group was walking towards a restaurant for a meal.
Surveillance footage reported by local media showed most of the group crossing the road ahead of the 67-year-old, who was walking behind them.
The bus was making a right turn when it hit the woman. Police have not determined responsibility for the accident, and investigations into the exact circumstances are ongoing.
Suffered Multiple Serious Fractures
Taichung’s fire authorities said the woman suffered an open fracture to her right upper arm, an open fracture to her left lower limb and a pelvic fracture.
She had no heartbeat when emergency workers attended to her.
Rescuers used equipment including a lifting air bag and spinal board to free her from beneath the bus. They treated her injuries and performed emergency resuscitation before she was transported to hospital.
Her heartbeat was subsequently restored.
Taiwan’s Public Television Service reported later on 16 September that she had regained signs of life and remained under medical treatment.
Bus Driver Tested Negative for Alcohol and Drugs
The bus was driven by a 45-year-old man surnamed Gong.
Taichung police said tests showed that he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The driver told Taiwanese media that he had seen a group of pedestrians crossing before making the turn and claimed he had stopped and checked the pedestrian crossing before proceeding.
He said he realised that someone had been hit after people nearby began screaming.
That is the driver’s account of the incident. Police are still gathering evidence, including footage, to determine how the accident happened and responsibility has not been established.
Police also said Singapore’s representative office in Taipei had been informed so that assistance could be provided to the woman’s family.
