A bizarre incident in New Taipei City’s Zhonghe District saw a luxury car roll unattended across a road and crash into a safety barrier after the driver allegedly forgot to engage the handbrake while stopping to buy roast duck.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of April 3 along Liancheng Road. The driver had temporarily parked the vehicle at a corner outside a well-known roast duck shop before going in to collect food. However, it is believed the handbrake was not properly engaged, causing the vehicle to slowly roll forward with no one inside.
CCTV and witness accounts described the car moving steadily across the road with its hazard lights on, gradually drifting through the junction before eventually hitting a crash protection barrel and coming to a stop. No pedestrians or other vehicles were struck during the incident.
The driver, who was reportedly a regular customer at the roast duck restaurant, was seen rushing back to the scene after realising the vehicle had rolled away, still holding his freshly purchased meal.
A staff member at the shop said they did not witness the incident directly but were told by customers that the driver had hurried in to buy food and may have forgotten to secure the handbrake before leaving the car.
Car experts noted that such incidents can occur if a vehicle is not properly put into “Park” or if the handbrake is not fully engaged, especially on uneven ground, allowing it to roll and cause unintended collisions.
Police said no formal report had been filed, but reminded motorists that improper parking can still violate traffic regulations and result in fines. The incident caused no injuries, though authorities stressed the importance of ensuring vehicles are securely parked, even during quick stops.
