Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Fatal DUI During Deferred Prosecution in Changhua

(CNA, Changhua, May 20, by Cheng Wei-chen) A man surnamed Lee from Fenyuan Township, who was on deferred prosecution for a public danger offense, was sentenced to six years in prison by the Changhua District Court for killing a woman while driving under the influence after drinking rice wine and failing to yield to a pedestrian. According to the indictment from the Taiwan Changhua District Prosecutors Office, Lee had a prior conviction for a public danger offense under the Criminal Code and was granted deferred prosecution. During this period, which was to last until August 2024, he drank rice wine at his residence late at night. At around 5 a.m., he drove his car along Section 4 of Zhangnan Road in Fenyuan Township, Changhua County, and failed to yield to a pedestrian as required, striking a woman on a crosswalk and causing her to collapse. After police arrived at the scene, a breathalyzer test measured Lee's breath alcohol concentration at 0.25 milligrams per liter. The woman was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. The case was investigated and indicted by the Changhua District Prosecutors Office and transferred to the citizen judge court of the Taiwan Changhua District Court for trial. The court announced its verdict today, sentencing Lee to a six-year prison term for the crime of causing death by driving a motor vehicle while unable to do so safely, under the first part of Paragraph 3, Article 185-3 of the Criminal Code. The verdict can be appealed. (Editor: Long Po-an) 1150520