SUV Fails to Yield to Siren-Equipped Ambulance, Causes Crash in Changhua's Xiushui, 4 Injured

According to reports from Central News Agency, a traffic accident occurred on the evening of the 14th in Xiushui Township, Changhua County, when an ambulance equipped with a siren collided with an SUV at the intersection of Zhanglu Road, Minsheng Street, and Minyi Street. The impact was severe, causing significant damage to the left side of the ambulance and sending the SUV crashing into a roadside utility pole.

The Changhua County Fire Department stated that the ambulance was operating under emergency protocols with sirens activated as it approached the intersection, which was under a red light. However, it legally held right-of-way due to its emergency status. Meanwhile, the SUV, driven by a man surnamed Zhang, entered the intersection on a green light and failed to notice the approaching ambulance, leading to the collision. Witnesses reported seeing white smoke emerging from the front of the SUV immediately after impact, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene.

Following the crash, Zhang, the nurse on board, a 70-year-old female patient, and her 42-year-old female relative were all rushed to Changhua Christian Hospital. Hospital officials confirmed that the elderly patient sustained head trauma, the relative suffered a fractured right humerus, and Zhang sustained a scalp laceration along with a herniated cervical disc. All four remain hospitalized for observation and treatment.

Police have launched a full investigation into the cause of the accident and the determination of liability. While emergency vehicles are granted right-of-way when sirens are active, even at red lights, the incident highlights the need for greater public awareness and caution at intersections involving emergency response units.