68-Year-Old Ban Tie-xiang Suffers Severe Fall, Tibia and Fibula Fractured; Sues, Urges Mayor Chiang Wan-an for Thorough Investigation

Veteran Taiwanese artist Ban Tie-xiang suffered a severe fall in Taipei's Wanhua District last month, resulting in fractures to both his tibia and fibula. The incident occurred as he was walking to a promotional event for a new film near the Guobin Theater. He was rushed to the hospital, underwent surgery to implant two titanium alloy braces and over 20 steel nails, and remained hospitalized for 19 days.

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The accident site is located in the Ximending pedestrian area of Taipei City, an important commercial district frequently visited by domestic and international tourists. However, due to flawed road design and construction, pedestrians have fallen and suffered serious injuries, which is unacceptable and casts a shadow on the international image of the city.

Accompanied by Taipei City Councilor Hsu Li-hsin, Ban returned to the accident site on June 22 to file criminal and civil lawsuits for severe injury against the property owner. Ban expressed dismay that the accident happened in a busy commercial area frequented by tourists, attributing the fall to flawed road design and construction. He noted that numerous people have reportedly fallen and been injured at the same location over the years, with concerns raised as far back as six years ago, yet the problem remained unresolved.

Ban described the situation as a result of long-term mismanagement and maintenance failures, rather than a single accident. He was particularly critical of the authorities' inaction, despite official notices sent to property owners requesting repairs. He argued that such negligence severely endangers public safety and called for strict penalties and timely improvements, including forceful measures if necessary, to prevent further harm.

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This is no longer a single accident, but human error stemming from long-term management and maintenance failures.

Appealing directly to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, Ban urged a thorough review of the city's public safety, including road design, construction quality, inspection systems, and maintenance. He called for an immediate inspection of similar high-risk areas across the city to eliminate the problem of "pedestrian hell" and ensure a safe environment for residents and visitors.

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Road safety is the most basic administrative responsibility of the government and the most basic right of the people.

Ban emphasized that road safety is a fundamental responsibility of the government and a basic right of the people. He believes this incident should serve as a catalyst for public safety reform, urging relevant authorities to take responsibility and eliminate dangers proactively rather than merely apologizing after accidents occur. He stressed that only through genuine improvement can the safety of every pedestrian be guaranteed.

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True progress is not apologizing after an accident occurs, but thoroughly eliminating the danger before an accident occurs.