Sanxia Vehicular Ramming Attack

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sanxia Vehicular Ramming Attack (新北市三峽區汽車衝撞攻擊事件)[a]occurred at approximately 4:04 p.m. on May 19, 2025, near the main entrance of Bei Da Elementary School (北大國小) on Guocheng Street (國成街) in Sanxia District (三峽區), New Taipei City (新北市), Taiwan. As of now, the incident has resulted in four deaths and eleven injuries.[2][3]

Incident

At approximately 4:04 p.m. on May 19, 2025, the suspect, Yu Wen-cheng (余文正), made a left turn at an intersection. After striking a traffic island and reversing into a vehicle behind him, he turned left again and entered Guocheng Street (國成街) in Sanxia District. Over the next 8 seconds, Yu drove at high speed without honking or stopping, sideswiping a cyclist and then plowing into multiple road users—including scooter riders, students, and pedestrians—at the intersection of Guocheng Street and Guoguang Street (國光街). He continued into Lane 132, Fuxing Road (復興路132巷), where he struck more pedestrians. The incident resulted in four deaths and eleven injuries. [4][5]

After the crash, local shopkeepers, traffic patrol volunteers, teachers, and students rushed to the scene to assist, directing traffic, aiding the injured, and performing

CPR on those who had no vital signs, trying to make use of the golden hour for emergency treatment. [6]
。

Four individuals were without vital signs before arriving at the hospital. They included a 40-year-old woman surnamed Hung (洪), a scooter rider waiting at a red light,[7][8]and three female students from Sanxia Junior High School (新北市立三峽國民中學): two 12-year-old girls surnamed Chang (張) and Wu (吳), [9][10] and a 13-year-old girl surnamed Liu (劉). [9] All three students were classmates. [11][12] The girl surnamed Chang was successfully resuscitated by the medical team at Tucheng Hospital (新北市立土城醫院). The remaining three were declared dead after failed emergency treatment at the hospital. After undergoing two surgeries and 12 days of treatment in intensive care, Yu Wen-cheng was pronounced dead at 7:20 a.m. on May 31.

Suspect

The Driver

The perpetrator was Yu Wen-cheng (余文正), aged 78, a resident of Longxue Borough (龍學里), Sanxia District. He was a graduate of Tatung University and had worked for decades at Tatung Company, where he held executive positions, including board director, corporate representative, general manager of overseas subsidiaries, and board member of Elitegroup Computer Systems.He also served as a supervisor on the board of Tatung University. [13][14]

Former colleagues at Tatung stated that Yu’s demeanor would change significantly when driving—he often became anxious, irritable, and exhibited signs of road rage.

Yu was admitted to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital following the crash, where he remained in a coma under intensive care. He underwent multiple surgeries before dying of multiple organ failure at 7:20 a.m. on May 31. [15]。

Aftermath

After colliding with a bicycle and hitting three standard heavy motorcycles and several pedestrians at the intersection of Guocheng Street (國成街) and Guoguang Street (國光街), Yu Wen-cheng continued driving along Lane 132, Fuxing Road (復興路132巷), where he again struck pedestrians before crashing into a traffic island and coming to a stop. [16] The injured and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients were transported or made their way to En Chu Kong Hospital (恩主公醫院), Tucheng Hospital (土城醫院), and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (亞東醫院) for treatment.[17]

On the afternoon of May 20, 2025, the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office (新北地檢署) conducted autopsies on the three deceased victims, confirming that all had died from internal organ rupture caused by blunt force trauma. [18]

On May 31 at 7:20 a.m., Yu Wen-cheng was pronounced dead at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital after succumbing to severe injuries and multiple organ failure, despite medical intervention. [19]

Judicial Investigation

The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board(TTSB) classified the event as a major road accident and launched a formal investigation into the case.[20] On May 20, 2025, the TTSB successfully retrieved the event data recorder (EDR) from Yu’s vehicle.[21]

Government response

William Lai
(賴清德) visits victims’ families at the hospital.

On the afternoon of May 19,

William Lai and Premier Cho Jung-tai visited several hospitals to express condolences and meet with the injured and their families. They were accompanied by Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao and Legislator Su Chiao-hui.[23]
Some family members of the victims petitioned the president directly, calling on the government to address the potential traffic hazards posed by elderly drivers and to propose legal reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Executive Yuan Spokesperson Lee Hui-chih (李慧芝) later stated that Premier Cho was deeply saddened by the incident and had instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare (衛生福利部) to launch an emergency medical response project. Relevant government resources were mobilized to treat the injured, and all agencies were ordered to assist the families and promptly determine the cause of the crash. [24][25][26]

On May 20, during a New Taipei City Council session, Councilor Lee Yu-hsiang (李宇翔) questioned whether Yu Wen-cheng (余文正) — who had been recognized as a Model Father of Sanxia District (三峽區模範父親) in 2022 — should have his honorary status revoked. [27]In response, the New Taipei City Department of Social Welfare (社會局) announced that Yu no longer met the criteria for such recognition and that his Model Father title would be immediately rescinded. [28] That same morning, President William Lai also addressed the nation during a speech marking the first anniversary of his inauguration. Before beginning his formal remarks, he expressed his concern over the tragic incident that had occurred the previous day. [29]

Political reactions and proposed reforms

On May 20, during a plenary session of the Legislative Yuan, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Johnny Chiang called for a one-minute silent tribute from all legislators to mourn the victims.

Legislative caucuses from all major political parties called for traffic policy reform. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Rosalia Wu stated that the party caucus had already begun studying ways to improve policies concerning elderly drivers. The party planned to hold public hearings to gather opinions from various sectors, including reforms to license renewal, driver education, and training programs.

The DPP also proposed incentives such as subsidies for refresher courses or re-education programs to encourage elderly drivers to undergo proper training.

Kuomintang Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) suggested a comprehensive review of the “Road Safety Project (道安專案)”, calling for strengthened regulations on elderly, drunk, and drug-impaired driving. She advocated for stricter license renewal thresholds for seniors, including evaluations of vision and reaction time, to prevent future tragedies. She also recommended that the government plan alternative transportation options, such as taxi subsidies or community shuttles, to ensure both safety and convenience.[30]


On May 21, 2025, a joint press conference titled “No More Going Through the Motions: Mandatory Retraining and Elimination of Dangerous Drivers” was held in front of the Executive Yuan (行政院) by leaders of multiple parties and civic groups. Participants included

Wang Wan-yu , Secretary-General Lin Yi-hsuan (林邑軒), Taiwan Statebuilding Party Secretary-General Wu Hsin-tai (吳欣岱), Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party Secretary-General Ho Yu-jung (何語蓉), and Green Party Taiwan Co-Convener Wang Yen-han (王彥涵). The conference strongly criticized the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (交通部) for their handling of the case. [31]

Civil society response

Chen Kai-ning (陳愷寧), chairperson of the Zero Pedestrian Deaths Alliance (行人零死亡推動聯盟), issued a public statement urging the government to treat the matter with urgency. He called for a swift investigation, systemic reforms, and a reevaluation of current driver’s license testing standards. [32][33]

Protests and public actions

Chen Kai-ning of the Zero Pedestrian Deaths Alliance announced plans to organize a public protest on May 25, calling for the public to gather outside the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to demand reforms to both the licensing and retraining systems for drivers. [34]

The Pedestrian Rights Advocacy Group (還路於民行人路權促進會) announced a petition campaign to the Executive Yuan (行政院), scheduled for May 22 or 23, and a commemorative event at the accident site. [34]

On May 21, it was confirmed that the Zero Pedestrian Deaths Alliance (行人零死亡推動聯盟) and the Next Generation Human-Centered Transportation Association (下一代人本交通促進會) would jointly organize a demonstration on May 24 titled “Protect the Next Generation: Traffic Engineering Reform and Mandatory Driver Retraining.”

Additionally, the Pedestrian Rights Advocacy Group organized two events: a petition action at the Executive Yuan on May 22, titled “Sanxia Crash Petition: Protect Our Families Together,” and a memorial event on May 24 titled “Moment of Silence for Traffic Victims – White Paper Crane Tribute.” [35]

Impact

On May 20, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications held a press conference announcing plans to reform elderly driver management regulations. The reforms include: lowering the age threshold for license renewal, introducing additional testing requirements, and offering TPASS public transportation subsidies for drivers over the age of 70 who voluntarily surrender their licenses. These measures are expected to take effect in 2026. [36] In addition, the ministry plans to increase the difficulty of the licensing exam. True-or-false questions will be removed and replaced entirely with multiple-choice questions of increased complexity. Regarding unlicensed driving, penalties will be strengthened. Repeat offenders may face unlimited fines, and the ministry is considering vehicle impoundment or license plate suspension as additional deterrents. [37]。

Memorials and tributes

A public memorial formed spontaneously at the accident site on May 20.

The incident shocked Taiwanese society. In the days following the accident, large numbers of citizens visited the site to pay their respects. They left offerings such as snacks, flowers, stuffed animals, and new school uniforms to honor the memory of the victims and pray for peace. [38] Locals have since referred to the incident as the “519 Incident (519事件),” marking the date as a moment of somber remembrance. [39]

Annotation

  1. ^ “According to the official statement from the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB), the incident is titled ‘1140519 Private Passenger Car Collision with a Motorcycle and Pedestrians on Guocheng Street, Sanxia District, New Taipei City.’” [1]

Reference

  1. ^ 1140519自用小客車於新北市三峽區國成街往南撞擊機車及行人事故. 運安會 (Report) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  2. ^ "三峽重大車禍3死12傷 肇事7旬駕駛經初步檢查無酒駕". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  3. ^ 莊淇鈞 (2025-05-31). "快訊／三峽3死肇事翁病情驟變惡化　今晨急救無效身亡". 三立新聞 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 新北. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  4. ^ "目擊者新視角影片：時速破百 驚天一撞3死12傷！78歲翁駕照車籍起底".
  5. ^ "三峽車禍肇事路線 案發前余姓駕駛涉撞後車逃逸[影]". Archived from the original on 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  6. ^ "三峽車禍見「溫暖」 店家 導護老師第一時間救命".
  7. ^ NOWnews今日新聞 (2025-05-20). "三峽車禍死者唯一家長！小孩永遠等不到媽媽接送 | 社會". NOWnews今日新聞 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  8. ^ "男童尋母「那輛摩托車是我媽媽的」 三峽車禍婦人今告別式". 鏡報 (in Traditional Chinese). 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
  9. ^ a b 新北市政府教育局. "教育新聞-三峽重大事故新北啟動跨局處應變 全力協助師生與家屬". www.ntpc.edu.tw. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  10. ^ https://www.facebook.com/TBSCTS (2025-06-14). "三峽車禍13歲女學生告別式 父母布置「人生畢典」靈堂". 華視新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-18. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  11. ^ TVBS. "三峽車禍「2國中妹輾死」！家屬1原因 不能領180萬補償金│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  12. ^ TaiSounds, 太報. "90分考卷噴飛！三峽「同班3學生」2死1命危 燦笑一起放學身影曝光 | 社會焦點". 太報 TaiSounds (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  13. ^ "起底三峽害3命78歲駕駛！曾任上市公司董事 現為大同大學監察人". www.setn.com (in Chinese). 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  14. ^ "財團法人大同大學第十九屆董事名冊" (PDF). info.ttu.edu.tw. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-07-06. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  15. ^ 黃旭昇 (2025-05-31). "三峽車禍肇事者死亡 防脫產已進入法院查封程序". 中央社 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  16. ^ "三峽重大車禍3死12傷 肇事7旬駕駛經初步檢查無酒駕". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  17. ^ 中央通訊社 (2025-05-19). "三峽重大車禍3死12傷78歲駕駛肇事 警方還原事發經過[影] | 社會". 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  18. ^ 聯合新聞網. "三峽大車禍3死 相驗結果均「外力撞擊致內臟破裂」". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  19. ^ 李定宇 (2025-05-31). "三峽重大車禍余姓老翁今晨不治 死亡人數再添1人肇事原因成謎". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). 聯合報. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  20. ^ "三峽車禍釀嚴重死傷 運安會列重大公路事故立案調查" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  21. ^ "運安會勘驗三峽肇事汽車　已查扣車上「黑盒子」還原狀況" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  22. ^ 李培睿 (2025-05-19). "三峽重大車禍！侯友宜赴醫院探視一度哽咽：救人要緊". Yahoo新聞網 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  23. ^ 石亞萱 (2025-05-19). "三峽車禍釀3死！賴清德、卓榮泰分赴3醫院探視". NOWnews 今日新聞 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  24. ^ 黃翊婷 (2025-05-20). "三峽車禍3死12傷　家屬當面向賴清德請命：別讓70歲以上的人開車". ETtoday新聞雲 (in Chinese).
  25. ^ 楊文琪 (2025-05-19). "卓榮泰：速查明肇事原因、持續加強更多安全措施". Yahoo新聞網 (in Chinese).
  26. ^ 陳弘志 (2025-05-19). "快訊／16傷7命危新北重大車禍 賴清德、卓榮泰震驚痛心「下達最新指示」". Yahoo新聞網 (in Chinese).
  27. ^ 聯合新聞網. "三峽放學大車禍釀3死 肇事老翁曾是模範父親". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  28. ^ 中央通訊社 (2025-05-20). "三峽車禍肇事駕駛曾獲模範父親 新北社會局將取消 | 社會". 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  29. ^ "賴清德520就職談話「先關心三峽車禍」　江啟臣立院開議前默哀1分鐘".
  30. ^ 鄭佑漢 (2025-05-20). "三峽重大車禍釀3死12傷 朝野立委默哀並促高齡駕駛制度改革". Yahoo新聞網 (in Chinese).
  31. ^ "三峽3死車禍！4小黨批交通執法怠惰鬆散：高速撞擊行人應視為意圖殺人". 三立新聞網SETN. 2025-05-21.
  32. ^ 行人零死亡推動聯盟 Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance (2025-05-19). "三峽重大事故：為傷者祈禱。道路死傷無法容忍，駕訓改革刻不容緩！呼籲運安會儘速展開調查！". Facebook (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  33. ^ "三峽78歲翁暴衝　路權團體籲強化考照、改革駕訓制度". ETtoday新聞雲. 2025-05-20.
  34. ^ a b "網友灌爆交通部臉書「放任駕駛殺人」　民團擬赴行政院抗議". ETtoday新聞雲. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  35. ^ "無法接受交通部的傲慢與怠惰 行人零死亡推動聯盟宣布25日早上10點上街遊行「3大訴求曝光」". FTNN新聞雲. 2025-05-21. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  36. ^ 洪詩宸 (2025-05-20). "交通部下修高齡駕駛換照年齡至70歲 增檢測項目、繳回駕照補助". 公視新聞網 PNN (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  37. ^ "無照駕駛擬比照酒駕累罰無上限 考照筆試改為全選擇題". 公視新聞網 PNN (in Chinese). 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  38. ^ "悲痛！三峽3死12傷車禍現場　民眾送鮮花零食哀悼逝者".
  39. ^ 聯合新聞網. "三峽重大車禍居民稱「519事件」 今下午4時發動集體哀悼". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-05-21.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sanxia_Vehicular_Ramming_Attack&oldid=1297953954"