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Wanhua Police Clarify Drunk Driving Misjudgment; Family Cannot Accept Explanation, Demands Release of Footage

From Liberty Times · (4h ago) Chinese Critical tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A motorcyclist in Taipei, surnamed Du, collapsed by the roadside after experiencing a brain hemorrhage, with initial police suspicion of drunk driving.
  • Du's family claims police delayed medical attention, suspecting a focus on achieving drunk driving quotas, leading to his condition worsening.
  • While police deny delaying care and state they offered medical assistance multiple times, the family disputes the account and demands the release of surveillance footage.

A distressing incident in Taipei's Wanhua district has sparked controversy, involving a motorcyclist, identified by the surname Du, who collapsed by the roadside and was subsequently suspected of drunk driving by the police. Du's family has come forward with serious allegations, claiming that the police's alleged focus on securing a drunk driving case led to a critical delay in providing medical attention, exacerbating his condition. The family asserts that Du was suffering from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage, not intoxication, and that the delay in hospitalization significantly impacted his recovery.

The family stated that when the police arrived, the rider could not complete the breathalyzer test. If they wanted to send him to the hospital, the police needed to issue a ticket, so they took him to the police station.

โ€” Taipei City Councilor Hsu Li-hsinCouncilor Hsu relays the family's account of the events leading to Du being taken to the police station instead of directly to the hospital.

The Wanhua police precinct has issued a clarification, refuting the family's claims. They maintain that officers offered to send Du to the hospital multiple times, but the family allegedly refused. However, the family vehemently denies this, stating that Du was in no condition to respond and that it was only after repeated pleas from Du's wife that the police finally called for an ambulance. This stark contradiction in accounts has fueled the family's demand for transparency, specifically requesting the release of all surveillance footage from the incident to ascertain the sequence of events and the police's actions.

Adding another layer to the dispute, the family expressed confusion and dismay that the police initiated a criminal investigation for negligent injury against Du's attending officers, despite the family's reluctance to press charges. This move, they argue, is inexplicable given their belief that the police's actions directly contributed to Du's current condition, which requires ongoing rehabilitation. The family feels that justice has not been served and is urging the judicial system to provide a fair resolution for Du.

The family believes that the police should release the entire video of the incident.

โ€” Taipei City Councilor Hsu Li-hsinCouncilor Hsu conveys the family's demand for transparency regarding the police's actions.

From the perspective of a publication like Liberty Times, this case highlights critical issues of police conduct, accountability, and the potential for procedural oversights to have severe consequences. The family's inability to accept the police's narrative and their persistent demand for visual evidence underscore a deep-seated distrust and a desire for objective truth. While the police maintain their actions were appropriate, the family's persistent allegations and the ongoing legal proceedings suggest a complex situation where the public's right to know and the need for thorough investigation are paramount. The case serves as a somber reminder of the importance of swift and appropriate medical response in emergencies, regardless of initial suspicions.

The family cannot accept the police's statement and hopes the judiciary will quickly bring justice to Du.

โ€” Taipei City Councilor Hsu Li-hsinCouncilor Hsu expresses the family's dissatisfaction with the police's explanation and their plea for a just outcome.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.