Taroko Express Accident With 49 Dead: Li Yixiang Sentenced to 10 Months for Obstructing Bidding, Finalized
In the Taroko Express accident that killed 49 people, site director Li Yixiang had his 10-month sentence for obstructing bidding finalized by the Supreme Court. However, charges including negligent homicide were remanded to the Hualien High Court for retrial.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 17:28
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 18:02 (33 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 19:49 (1h 46m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA, Taipei, 23rd) The TRA Taroko Express accident resulted in 49 deaths. The site director, Li Yixiang, who was working illegally, was sentenced to 7 years and 10 months in prison in the first instance, and the sentence was increased to 12 years and 6 months in the second instance. The Supreme Court ruled today that Li Yixiang's 10-month sentence for obstructing bidding is finalized, while the rest of the original judgment was revoked and remanded to the Hualien Branch of the High Court for retrial.
The judgment pointed out that since December 8, 2020, Li Yixiang served as the site director for the engineering project "Railway Driving Safety Improvement Six-Year Plan (North Link Line K51+170~500 Mountain Side Slope Safety Protection Facilities Engineering)" handled by the pre-reform Ministry of Transportation and Communications Taiwan Railways Administration. During the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday in 2021, the TRA ordered a complete suspension of work on the project from 12:00 on April 1 to 12:00 on April 6.
The judgment stated that Li Yixiang and the foreign migrant worker he employed, Hua Wen-hao, illegally carried out construction work in front of the north portal of the Qingshui Tunnel on April 2, 2021. The heavy truck they were driving stalled on the slope of the temporary road. The two attempted to use an excavator to free it but failed, causing the truck to slide down onto the East Main Line track. This led the TRA Flight 408 Taroko Express approaching the tunnel to crash into it without time to react, causing 49 deaths, over 200 injuries, and damaging 875 meters of railway track. It is the TRA's most serious casualty accident in recent years.
The Hualien District Court announced its first-instance verdict on November 11, 2022. Li Yixiang was sentenced to 5 years and 3 years in prison respectively for the crimes of negligent homicide and violating the Government Procurement Act to obstruct bidding, to be executed concurrently for 7 years and 10 months, along with a fine of NT$500,000. He was found not guilty on the charge of hit-and-run. Hua Wen-hao was only indicted for negligent homicide and was found not guilty.
The Hualien Branch of the Taiwan High Court announced its verdict on May 29 last year. Li Yixiang was sentenced to 5 years in prison for negligent homicide; his hit-and-run charge was changed to a 7-year prison sentence; and he was sentenced to 10 months for obstructing bidding. The combined sentence was 12 years and 6 months, an increase of 4 years and 8 months compared to the first instance. Hua Wen-hao's not guilty verdict was upheld.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals today regarding Li Yixiang's crime of obstructing bidding and Hua Wen-hao's charge of negligent homicide. Li Yixiang's 10-month sentence and Hua Wen-hao's not guilty verdict are finalized. For the parts concerning Li Yixiang's hit-and-run and negligent homicide, the Supreme Court revoked the original judgment and remanded it to the Hualien Branch of the High Court for retrial. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150423
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is the power to guard press freedom
Download CNA's 'First Hand News' APP to grasp the latest news instantly
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.
(CNA, Taipei, 23rd) The TRA Taroko Express accident resulted in 49 deaths. The site director, Li Yixiang, who was working illegally, was sentenced to 7 years and 10 months in prison in the first instance, and the sentence was increased to 12 years and 6 months in the second instance. The Supreme Court ruled today that Li Yixiang's 10-month sentence for obstructing bidding is finalized, while the rest of the original judgment was revoked and remanded to the Hualien Branch of the High Court for retrial.
The judgment pointed out that since December 8, 2020, Li Yixiang served as the site director for the engineering project "Railway Driving Safety Improvement Six-Year Plan (North Link Line K51+170~500 Mountain Side Slope Safety Protection Facilities Engineering)" handled by the pre-reform Ministry of Transportation and Communications Taiwan Railways Administration. During the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday in 2021, the TRA ordered a complete suspension of work on the project from 12:00 on April 1 to 12:00 on April 6.
The judgment stated that Li Yixiang and the foreign migrant worker he employed, Hua Wen-hao, illegally carried out construction work in front of the north portal of the Qingshui Tunnel on April 2, 2021. The heavy truck they were driving stalled on the slope of the temporary road. The two attempted to use an excavator to free it but failed, causing the truck to slide down onto the East Main Line track. This led the TRA Flight 408 Taroko Express approaching the tunnel to crash into it without time to react, causing 49 deaths, over 200 injuries, and damaging 875 meters of railway track. It is the TRA's most serious casualty accident in recent years.
The Hualien District Court announced its first-instance verdict on November 11, 2022. Li Yixiang was sentenced to 5 years and 3 years in prison respectively for the crimes of negligent homicide and violating the Government Procurement Act to obstruct bidding, to be executed concurrently for 7 years and 10 months, along with a fine of NT$500,000. He was found not guilty on the charge of hit-and-run. Hua Wen-hao was only indicted for negligent homicide and was found not guilty.
The Hualien Branch of the Taiwan High Court announced its verdict on May 29 last year. Li Yixiang was sentenced to 5 years in prison for negligent homicide; his hit-and-run charge was changed to a 7-year prison sentence; and he was sentenced to 10 months for obstructing bidding. The combined sentence was 12 years and 6 months, an increase of 4 years and 8 months compared to the first instance. Hua Wen-hao's not guilty verdict was upheld.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals today regarding Li Yixiang's crime of obstructing bidding and Hua Wen-hao's charge of negligent homicide. Li Yixiang's 10-month sentence and Hua Wen-hao's not guilty verdict are finalized. For the parts concerning Li Yixiang's hit-and-run and negligent homicide, the Supreme Court revoked the original judgment and remanded it to the Hualien Branch of the High Court for retrial. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150423
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is the power to guard press freedom
Download CNA's 'First Hand News' APP to grasp the latest news instantly
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.