Taiwan Court Extends Pre-Trial Detention for Driver in Fatal Drug-Fueled BMW Crash

A young man in Taichung faces extended detention after being charged with murder and drug-related offenses in a fatal hit-and-run.

A court in Taiwan has decided to extend the pre-trial detention of a young man, Bai (白), involved in a fatal car crash in Taichung. The incident, which occurred last year, involved a BMW driven by Bai (白) that struck and killed a pedestrian, Mr. Ye (葉). The court's decision to prolong Bai's (白) detention reflects concerns about his potential flight and the seriousness of the charges.

Prosecutors have charged Bai (白) with murder and drug-related offenses. Investigations revealed that Bai (白), who was just 18 years old at the time of the incident, consumed three different types of drugs within a 14-hour period before the collision. These included K-cigarettes, a drug-laced coffee package containing a substance known as "Miao Miao", and "zombie" smoke.

The accident occurred on October 27th. Bai (白), without a driver's license, was driving a rental black BMW when he struck Mr. Ye (葉) near the intersection of Beitun Road and Sanguang North 1st Street in Taichung. Following the impact, Bai (白) failed to stop, instead driving forward and running over the victim. Mr. Ye (葉) was severely injured and later died in the hospital.

Following the incident, Bai (白) fled the scene but was later apprehended after crashing his car. In court, Bai (白) denied the charge of murder. However, the court cited his actions after the crash, his attempts to evade justice, and the severity of the charges as reasons for extending his detention. The court will continue to examine the case to determine the exact circumstances.