Unlicensed, Drug-Impaired Driver Crashes into $70,000 Bicycle, Baker Recounts Near-Death Experience

A baker in Hualien County, Taiwan, narrowly escaped death after being violently rear-ended by a car while cycling. The 42-year-old man, who works in the baking industry, was riding his nearly $70,000 Taiwanese dollar bicycle towards Taroko when the accident occurred.

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At the moment I was hit, I lost consciousness. When I came to, I just wanted to crawl to the side of the road, otherwise I would have been hit a second time!

The driver of the car, identified as a 47-year-old woman, was found to be operating the vehicle without a license. Authorities also noted her disoriented state and abnormal behavior at the scene, which led to a drug test. The preliminary results indicated a positive reaction for methamphetamine.

The impact sent the cyclist and his bike flying, resulting in severe abrasions and bruises across his body. His high-value bicycle was rendered irreparable. The cyclist recounted the terrifying moments, recalling losing consciousness and scrambling to safety to avoid being hit again. He stated the driver was incoherent and pleaded for a private settlement instead of involving the police.

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The driver who hit me, her speech was illogical, her mental state was extremely poor, and she kept begging me to 'settle privately, don't call the police.'

Fortunately, the cyclist was wearing a helmet, which likely saved his life from a severe head impact. However, his hand injuries are so significant that he cannot handle food ingredients, preventing him from returning to work for over a week. He expressed dismay at the prevalence of drug-impaired driving, stating it is difficult to guard against.

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Drugs severely damage the central nervous system, affecting a driver's judgment and reflexes, causing slow reactions and hallucinations. Drug-impaired driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.