A tragic chain-reaction crash involving nine vehicles occurred late Saturday night on the northbound lanes of National Highway 1 in Tongluo, Miaoli County, Taiwan, amid heavy rainfall and slippery road conditions. The accident resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to seven others.
According to authorities, the incident took place at the 136-kilometer mark of the highway around 11 p.m. The Miaoli Fire Department dispatched emergency responders from Tongluo, Gongguan, and Sanyi stations after receiving multiple distress calls. Upon arrival, rescuers found a large truck and eight passenger cars severely damaged in a series of collisions.
Among the injured were a child and a woman who were trapped inside a wrecked vehicle. Firefighters used hydraulic tools to cut through the mangled metal and free them. A total of seven people were sent to nearby hospitals for treatment. Unfortunately, a 51-year-old female passenger surnamed Fang was found unresponsive at the scene and later declared dead at the hospital.
Police investigations revealed that the pileup began when a 40-year-old woman surnamed Chao lost control of her vehicle due to the slippery road, striking both the inner and outer guardrails before coming to a halt in the inner lane. The sudden obstruction caused seven other cars and a large truck—driven by individuals surnamed Hsu, Lai, Wen, Chen, Sun, Pan, Lo, and Huang—to crash in succession as they were unable to brake in time.
Authorities confirmed that none of the drivers involved were under the influence of alcohol. The crash site was cleared around 12:59 a.m. Sunday.
The National Highway Police Division emphasized the importance of safe driving during inclement weather. Drivers are urged to slow down, increase following distances, and remain vigilant to prevent similar tragedies.
