A 38-year-old woman in Xiulin Township, Hualien, Taiwan, lost control of her vehicle after reportedly taking sleeping pills due to emotional distress, crashing into a parked small truck and a car, and hitting an elderly couple preparing to enter a nearby clinic. The wife suffered severe injuries and died at the scene, while the husband sustained head injuries and is in stable condition.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of August 6. The elderly couple, surnamed You, had parked their small truck near the clinic and were about to enter when the woman driver’s white car violently struck them.
Police investigations revealed that the woman, surnamed Lin, was traveling north with her husband but decided to drive home alone after an argument in Su’ao. During her drive, she took sleeping pills which caused drowsiness and impaired her concentration, leading her to veer off the road multiple times before the crash in Xiulin Township.
Tests confirmed Lin was not under the influence of alcohol and held a valid driver’s license, but the sleeping pills affected her driving ability. Authorities warn drivers to avoid driving while fatigued, intoxicated, or under the influence of medications that impair judgment and concentration to ensure road safety.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation as police continue to gather evidence.
