Car Crashes into Tree in Hualien, Driver Dies After Being Rescued

(Central News Agency, Hualien, 19th, by reporter Li Hsien-feng) A passenger car traveling from north to south on Provincial Highway 9 at the 178-kilometer mark in Hualien crashed into a roadside tree and overturned around 6 a.m. today. The driver was trapped inside the vehicle. Police and firefighters who received the report arrived at the scene, broke apart the car body to rescue the driver, but the driver had no breathing or heartbeat. He was sent to the hospital but still succumbed to his injuries. The cause of the accident is being investigated by the police. According to the police, the driver, surnamed Hsieh, crashed into the tree for unknown reasons, causing the vehicle to overturn. Police and fire personnel immediately responded to the scene. When the driver was rescued, he had no breathing or heartbeat and was immediately sent to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital for emergency treatment, but he still died from his severe injuries. The Hsin-cheng Precinct of the Hualien County Police Department urges the public not to be complacent just because some sections of Highway 9 are straight. Drivers must adhere to the speed limit, always pay attention to the situation ahead, and avoid fatigue, drunk driving, and speeding. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung)