1 dead and 24 injured after brakes on tour bus fail

遊覽車剎車失靈1死24傷

Taiwan sees yet another catastrophic tour bus crash before seat belt law goes into effect on Nov. 1

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- The brakes on a tour bus driving through Qingjing Farm in Nantou County apparently suddenly gave out yesterday afternoon (Oct. 24), leading the vehicle to careen down a mountain road, killing one passenger and injuring 24, reported CNA.

At 3:10 p.m. yesterday, the Nantou County Fire Department received a call that the driver of a tour bus on Provincial Highway 14 suddenly lost control of the brakes and crashed into a tree in front of Qingjing Farm Guest House. The force of the collision was so great that the front of the vehicle wrapped around the tree it impacted and some passengers were even thrown from the vehicle.

The injured passengers were members of the Presbyterian Tainan Datong Christian Church, which had booked the trip through a travel agency. The group had just finished their tour of Qingjing Farm and were headed to Puli Winery next before the accident occurred.


(CNA image)

According to the Directorate General of Highways, the bus had been manufactured in January 2014 and had no record of violations and had undergone regularly scheduled safety inspections. Officials are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Starting November 1, all tour buses must come equipped with seat belts and all passengers over the age of 4 will be required by law to fasten their seat belts. Starting next year, passengers on tour buses who fail to wear their seat belts will face a fine of NT$6,000 (US$198).

Taiwan has recently seen a rash of catastrophic tour bus crashes, leading the government to pass tighter regulations on safety inspections, rest for drivers, and mandatory seat belts, among other measures.