Truck crashes into deputy speaker's home on dangerous Taichung road

A runaway truck barreled down a notoriously dangerous road in Taichung, Taiwan, crashing into 16 vehicles and the home of the local deputy speaker. The incident on Shang-Shang Road Section 6, nicknamed "Winter Melon Road" by residents, has reignited calls for urgent safety measures.

Local councilor Tseng Wei of the Democratic Progressive Party slammed the city government during a questioning session, highlighting the frequent accidents on the steep downhill section. He pointed out that the truck, driven by a Burkina Faso national without a license, not only caused extensive damage but also ended up at the residence of Deputy Speaker Yen Li-min's father, former legislator Yen Ching-piao. "Winter Melon Road is too dangerous with frequent accidents," Tseng stated, demanding the city install buffer zones to reduce speed and prevent vehicles from crashing into homes.

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Winter Melon Road is too dangerous with frequent accidents.

Taichung City Transportation Bureau Director Yeh Chao-fu acknowledged the safety concerns and stated that the department had conducted multiple site inspections. He explained that the road's traffic flow is connected to large vehicles entering and exiting the Taichung Port area. A plan for a dedicated expressway to serve the port is currently in the overall planning stage. Yeh also mentioned that the road connects to Provincial Highway 61, the West Coast Expressway, and that southern traffic can also access the port area without needing to use the National Freeway 1 Zhonggang Interchange.

Despite official assurances, residents and councilors remain concerned. Tseng emphasized the need for immediate action, suggesting the installation of large Jersey barriers to safely stop runaway vehicles. The incident underscores the persistent safety issues on Shang-Shang Road Section 6, a route that has seen numerous accidents due to its steep gradient and heavy traffic, particularly the sharp descent from Xitun Road where brake failures are common.

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The incident happened around 3 pm, after which the damaged portion was barricaded. The repair of the sewage line will begin from Wednesday morning, and all efforts will be made to complete the work at the earliest.