87-Year-Old Woman Dies in Bicycle Collision in Wufeng; Driver Suspected of Hit-and-Run Sent for Prosecution

According to reports from the Central News Agency, Taichung police were alerted early yesterday morning to an incident in Wufeng District where an 87-year-old woman surnamed Li, riding a bicycle, was struck by a vehicle and found lying by the roadside. She was rushed to the hospital but later pronounced dead. The vehicle involved in the collision had already fled the scene.

The Wufeng Precinct of the Taichung City Police Department reported that they received an emergency call in the early hours of June 15 regarding an accident on Jinzhou Road. Officers arriving at the scene discovered the 87-year-old woman lying injured after being hit by a car. Despite immediate medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the vehicle had already escaped.

After reviewing surveillance footage, police identified a 38-year-old man surnamed Chen as the suspect, driving a small passenger car. He was apprehended around 4:00 PM on June 15. Chen claimed he did not see the woman, and after questioning, he was sent for prosecution on suspicion of negligent homicide and hit-and-run.

The victim’s family, speaking to media outlets, stated that after the collision, the woman lay in the rain for over two hours before a passerby reported the incident and she was taken to the hospital. They also noted that the suspect only turned himself in 12 hours after the accident and urged police to investigate possible drunk or drugged driving.

Police confirmed that Chen tested negative for drugs in an on-site saliva test and showed no signs of alcohol intoxication in a breathalyzer test. However, blood samples have been collected for further toxicology analysis. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. (Edited by Chen Jen-Hua)