Hualien Middle School Student Drives Off in Car After Argument with Mother, Police Break Window to Intervene

(CNA reporter Li Hsien-feng, Hualien, 19th) A middle school student in Hualien was riding in a private car driven by his mother when they had an argument. When the mother got out of the car, the student locked the car and drove it away. The frightened mother called the police. After multiple commands from officers were ignored, they obtained the car owner's consent, used a baton to break the window, and successfully removed the teenager from the car.

The Hualien County Police Bureau's Ji'an Precinct stated today that the Taichang Police Station received a report yesterday afternoon about a dispute on Ji'an Road, Section 1. It was learned that a 44-year-old woman surnamed Chang was driving her son home from middle school. They had a heated argument in the car while on Ji'an Road, Section 1. During the argument, the teenager reached out and turned the car key, causing the vehicle to stall. When Mrs. Chang got out of the car and went to the passenger side to scold him, the teenager climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine, and attempted to drive away. The mother chased him down the street, and the entire incident was filmed by a passerby and posted on social media.

After receiving the report, police rushed to the scene. The middle school student refused to cooperate and get out of the car, and continued to drive slowly for about 20 meters. To prevent the situation from escalating and to ensure the safety of surrounding road users and the teenager in the car, officers, after their repeated commands were ignored, obtained the car owner's consent and used a baton to break the window, successfully removing the teenager from the car and controlling the scene.

The police subsequently cited the teenager for driving without a license in accordance with the "Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act." The Ji'an Precinct urges the public to handle family communication problems rationally and not to act impulsively and dangerously. The police will strictly enforce the law against behaviors that endanger road safety to maintain public safety. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150519