Teen survives 13-story fall onto SUV in New Taipei

新北少年13樓墜落至休旅車頂撿回一命

Teen survives 13-story leap after landing onto SUV in New Taipei City

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- A 17-year-old student miraculously survived a 13-story fall after he landed on an SUV which happed stop at a traffic light in New Taipei City Saturday night (Feb. 16), reported UDN.

At 6 p.m. on Saturday, in an apparent attempt to commit suicide, a 17-year-old male surnamed Lu (盧) leaped from the 13th floor of an apartment and landed on a black Honda SUV, which had stopped at a stop light on Renai Road in New Taipei City's Yonghe District. Upon hearing a violent crashing sound and seeing flying glass, the 38-year-old driver inside surnamed Wu (吳) stepped outside of his vehicle and alerted police as soon as he saw Lu's limp body on top of his car.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, Lu was not showing any vital signs and was immediately rushed to Shuangho Hospital, where doctors were able to resuscitate him. Doctors said that Lu suffered a broken arm, lacerations on his legs, multiple rib fractures, and a collapsed lung.

Meanwhile, Wu suffered cuts on his hand from flying glass, but was otherwise uninjured as he was miraculously shielded from most the impact. Wu was also sent to Shuangho hospital for treatment, but was soon released, as his injuries were minor.

According to a preliminary police investigation, Lu lived in the building from which he jumped, and officers found his book bag on the roof of the 13th floor of the building. Officers believe he made the leap from the roof as it was the building's highest floor.

Police say that Lu is a sophomore in a public high school in New Taipei City and family members said that he suffered from depression, and they suspect that he tried to commit suicide due to stress from his studies. However, police are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the incident.