A horrific crash outside a hotpot restaurant in Changhua has left two people dead and three others injured after a medium-sized truck allegedly ploughed into a family standing outside the shop late at night.
The fatal accident happened at around 9.46pm on Thursday along Section 3 of Zhangnan Road.
According to reports, the victims were a family of four — including an elderly couple, their daughter and son-in-law — who were chatting outside the restaurant as the business prepared to close for the night.
Surveillance footage later showed the truck suddenly veering off course before crashing directly into the group and slamming into a utility pole.
The son-in-law narrowly avoided the full impact but still suffered injuries to his leg after being clipped by the vehicle.
However, the 80-year-old father-in-law, surnamed Lin, and his 56-year-old daughter suffered severe injuries and later died.
The victim’s wife, aged 69, and the son-in-law sustained lighter injuries.
Witnesses rushed to help after hearing a loud crash, with the scene reportedly left in chaos as motorcycles were scattered across the road.
Firefighters later revealed that the female victim had become trapped beneath the truck and had to be rescued from under the vehicle.
Emergency responders said the elderly male victim lost vital signs while being transported to hospital and was later pronounced dead.
The woman reportedly suffered severe head trauma and also died despite emergency treatment.
The restaurant owner, who is also the victims’ son-in-law, said the family had simply been saying goodbye outside the shop moments before tragedy struck.
“We were just sending them off when suddenly there was a loud bang and the truck came crashing toward us,” he said.
“I was standing furthest in front, so the vehicle only brushed my leg. They were standing closer to the motorcycles, and my sister-in-law ended up trapped underneath the truck.”
Police later arrested the 48-year-old driver, surnamed Lee, after drug tests reportedly returned positive results.
Authorities said the driver initially claimed he was overly tired due to lack of sleep.
However, officers later discovered suspected “zombie vape” drug cartridges inside the truck, while saliva drug screening allegedly confirmed the presence of narcotics.
Police confirmed the driver tested negative for alcohol but positive for drugs.
Authorities also revealed the truck had been rented from a rental company in Taichung, with the suspect allegedly claiming he needed the vehicle for moving house.
The driver has since been arrested on charges related to dangerous driving and drug offences, while prosecutors have applied to detain him in custody pending further investigation.
