SUV sends boy flying 100 meters to his death in E. Taiwan

東台灣休旅車撞飛男孩100米送醫不治

SUV rushing through yellow light in E. Taiwan collides with boy sending him flying 100 meters to his death


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- A 12-year-old boy was hit with such force by an SUV trying to beat a red light in eastern Taiwan that he was sent flying 100 meters, taking the young student's life.

At 6:18 p.m. on Tuesday evening (May 14), a 12-year-old boy in 5th grade surnamed Yang (楊) rushed to cross the intersection of Jixing Road and Jifeng Road in Hualien County's Ji'an Township before the pedestrian crossing light turned green, reported SETN. At that moment, the 32-year-old driver of a black SUV surnamed Cheng (鄭) tried to beat the red light by gunning his engine through the yellow light.

The SUV then struck Yang with such force that it sent the boy hurtling an estimated 100 meters in the air causing him to sustain multiple bone fractures and severe head injuries. In surveillance video of the accident released by authorities, the boy can be seen being tossed into the air like a rag doll well past the intersection, with the driver not bothering to slow down until he has plowed well past the intersection.


SUV involved in the accident. (Ji'an Police Department photo)

Paramedics rushed him to Hualien's Tzu Chi Hospital, but after 30 minutes of efforts by doctors to save his life, he succumbed to his injuries, reported UDN.

After submitting Cheng to a breathalyzer test, they found that his blood alcohol level was zero. The exact cause of the accident is still being investigated by police.

A spokesperson for the Hualien County Police cautions visitors to "slow down and respect the peaceful hosts in Hualien."