Near-disaster at Taipei funeral home as elderly driver's car veers into crowd area

A near-tragedy unfolded at the Cien Garden funeral home in Taipei's Xinyi District when a 70-year-old man's SUV veered out of control, crashing into a rain shed and narrowly missing a large gathering for a religious ceremony. The incident occurred on a slope within the facility's grounds.

The driver, identified by the surname Yang, was ascending a ramp when his vehicle reportedly lost control. It first scraped a parked shuttle bus before continuing onto the slope. The SUV then collided with an accessibility ramp, which halted its momentum. Fortunately, the vehicle did not directly enter the area where mourners were present for a ceremony honoring ancestors.

Witnesses described hearing the vehicle accelerate before it sped towards the crowd. One person on-site expressed relief, stating that a slight deviation in the car's path would have been catastrophic, attributing their survival to divine intervention. The accident resulted in minor injuries to Yang and a 25-year-old pedestrian, identified as Ruan.

Police responded to the scene and are investigating the precise cause of the accident. Initial reports indicate Yang had a blood alcohol content of zero and possessed a valid driver's license. Authorities are urging drivers to maintain their vehicles, especially brakes, and to remain vigilant on uphill roads to prevent similar incidents.

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The car was accelerating, and then it just drove straight towards the crowd. If the steering wheel had been even slightly more to the side, I would have been directly over. It's truly a blessing from the ancestors.