Massive Tree Collapses in Taichung, Injuring Two Police Officers Clearing Road

A massive roadside tree in Taichung City dramatically collapsed late on August 19th, narrowly missing a patrol car and injuring two police officers who were attempting to clear the obstruction.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. near the intersection of Sanmin Road and Gongyuan Road. A patrol car from the First Squadron of the City Police Department's Security Brigade stopped after noticing the large tree, which stood adjacent to the Guangfu Elementary School wall, shedding branches onto the roadway. Concerned about the hazard to drivers, the officers placed traffic cones and began removing the fallen debris.

Suddenly, with a loud "boom," the tree uprooted and fell across the road. The two officers, identified as a 54-year-old officer surnamed Wang and a 58-year-old officer surnamed Huang, were too close to evade the falling giant and were pinned by the trunk and branches. They managed to free themselves before emergency services arrived.

Firefighters dispatched three vehicles and seven personnel to the scene. Both officers sustained minor abrasions and bruises to their heads, forearms, and knees. They were conscious and alert and were transported to the hospital for treatment, with no life-threatening injuries reported.

The sheer size of the fallen tree was evident from the scene, with thick branches and the main trunk completely blocking the road. The uprooted root system had torn up a large section of the pavement, leaving a gaping hole. City construction and maintenance crews arrived the next morning to begin the arduous task of cutting the massive tree into sections for removal, aiming to quickly reopen the road.