Woman Drives Under Influence of 4 Drugs, Crashes into 6 Vehicles in Taichung, Killing One

A 45-year-old woman surnamed Liu was driving along Zhongshan Road in Fengyuan District, Taichung City, on the afternoon of the 19th, when she rear-ended six vehicles—four cars and two motorcycles—stopped at a red light, resulting in one fatality and five injuries. A rapid saliva drug test conducted by police revealed positive results for four types of drugs: etomidate, opioids, amphetamines, and cathinones. On the 20th, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office issued a press release stating that at around 2:00 p.m. on the 19th, Liu crashed into the vehicles waiting at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Yuanhuan East Road. Police apprehended Liu at the scene and conducted the drug screening. Prosecutors assigned to the case have launched an investigation, and the Taichung branch of the Foundation for the Protection of Crime Victims immediately activated its support mechanism. The prosecutor has directed police to review surveillance footage and dashcam recordings and to collect and test the suspect’s urine. Liu was transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office by police on the 20th. After interrogation, prosecutors determined she is strongly suspected of violating multiple laws, including causing death by operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, negligent injury, and violations of the Drug Hazard Prevention and Control Act. Given substantial evidence suggesting flight risk and the potential for repeated drug-impaired driving offenses, prosecutors concluded that detention is necessary to ensure the smooth progression of the investigation and to prevent further threats to public safety, and have formally requested the Taichung District Court to approve pre-trial detention.