Taiwan Cycling Tour Turns Tragic: Students Injured in Changhua Crash

A cycling tour around Taiwan takes a devastating turn as a car crash injures students in Changhua County.

Taipei, April 22 – A cycling tour of Taiwan undertaken by students has been marred by tragedy as seven individuals were injured, one seriously, after being struck by a car in Changhua County on Tuesday.

The Changhua County Fire Bureau reported that the incident occurred on Changshui Road in Pitou Township at approximately 10:43 a.m. First responders arrived at the scene to find a sedan on the wrong side of the road, its windshield partially damaged, and several bicycles scattered, damaged on the road.

The cyclists, part of a larger group touring the island, sustained injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones. A 15-year-old boy suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to Changhua Christian Hospital. He was assessed to have a GCS score of 3, indicating a deep coma. He is scheduled for a CT scan before being transferred to the ICU.

The driver, who also sustained head injuries, apparently from impacting the windshield, was found to be clear of alcohol, according to authorities.

Preliminary investigations by the Changhua Police Department's Beidou Precinct suggest the driver, identified by local media as a 40-year-old man surnamed Hsiao (蕭), may have fallen asleep at the wheel before veering into oncoming traffic. A witness reported the car was driving on the wrong side of the road for approximately 100 meters before the collision, indicating no attempt to brake, as reported by the Chinese-language United Daily News.

The cycling group comprised 28 students from Kang Chiao International School in New Taipei, along with two teachers and one guide, as indicated by police. One of the cyclists on the trip was the son of Taipei 101 Chairperson Janet Chia (賈永婕), who confirmed he was unharmed in a media statement.

Kang Chiao International School reported that their principal was on their way to Changhua to visit the injured students and that teachers and administrators were providing emotional support to the students affected by the accident.