6-Car Accident on National Highway 1 Five Yang Viaduct Suspected of Daydreaming and Colliding with Guardrail, 1 Injured Sent to Hospital

(Central News Reporter Wu Ruixi, Taoyuan, April 14) A 6-car accident occurred this afternoon on the northbound Taoyuan section of the Five Yang Viaduct on National Highway 1. Preliminary police investigations suggest that a male driver, surnamed Ye, daydreamed and collided with the guardrail, causing a chain reaction of rear-end collisions. One female passenger was injured and sent to the hospital for treatment.

Chen Menghong, the deputy squad leader of the First Highway Police Squad of the National Freeway Police Bureau, told the media that the duty command center received a report at 3:22 PM that there were multiple car accidents on the northbound 51.5-kilometer section of the Five Yang Viaduct on National Highway 1, occupying the northbound ramp connecting to the eastbound National Highway 2.

Preliminary police investigations revealed that Ye was driving a small passenger car when he lost control, first hitting the inner guardrail and then colliding with the ramp guardrail, causing the guardrail to fall onto the roadway.

Chen Menghong pointed out that another five small passenger cars behind him swerved to avoid the fallen guardrail on the roadway, resulting in a chain reaction of collisions. One of the cars had a female passenger, surnamed Cai, who suffered facial injuries and bleeding teeth, and was sent to the hospital for treatment by ambulance. All drivers passed the breathalyzer test with zero alcohol levels.

Chen Menghong said that the accident scene was cleared and traffic resumed at 4:14 PM. The detailed cause of the accident is still under further investigation. The police urge drivers to maintain adequate mental alertness before driving, avoid fatigued driving, and always pay attention to the road ahead while ensuring seat belts are properly fastened to maintain driving safety.