A bus driver in Taipei’s Songshan District collapsed and briefly lost vital signs after a collision with an SUV on Friday night, in a dramatic incident that left him in critical condition before he was successfully revived using emergency life support.
The accident occurred at around 9pm on April 4 at the intersection of Keelung Road Section 1 and Bade Road. A Guandu Bus 9069 service was travelling straight through the junction when an SUV driven by a 25-year-old man, identified by his surname Chen, allegedly changed lanes suddenly, resulting in a collision with the bus.
The impact caused significant damage, with the SUV’s left-side doors heavily dented inward, while the front lower section of the bus sustained visible cracking, indicating a strong force of impact. Both drivers exited their vehicles shortly after the crash to assess the situation.
However, while standing at the scene, the bus driver unexpectedly collapsed. Witnesses said he had initially parked the vehicle safely before stepping out, but suddenly fell to the ground moments later and became unresponsive.
Emergency responders rushed the driver to Taipei Medical University Hospital, where he was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after reportedly experiencing cardiac arrest. Medical staff were able to restore his heartbeat, though his condition remains under close observation.
Police said the cause of the crash and liability are still under investigation, with CCTV footage and further evidence being reviewed to determine the sequence of events.
