TAICHUNG, Taiwan — A 67-year-old Singaporean woman has died after being struck by a bus while crossing a road in Taichung, Taiwan, during a family vacation.
The woman was hit at about 11:11 a.m. on Sept. 16 at the intersection of Ziyou Road and Minsheng Road in Taichung’s West District. Police said a Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport bus was making a right turn when it collided with her in a pedestrian crossing.
She was taken to China Medical University Hospital after being rescued from underneath the bus. Her vital signs were restored after emergency treatment, but the hospital said she died Friday morning, Sept. 18, because of the severity of her injuries.
Tourist Was Traveling With Her Family
Taiwanese media reported that the woman was visiting Taiwan with a group of nine family members, including her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.
According to police, she was walking across the road on a designated crosswalk when the collision occurred. The bus was being driven by a 45-year-old man surnamed Kung.
The Singaporean’s condition was initially described as critical. Authorities said she suffered serious injuries and went into cardiac arrest following the crash.
Emergency responders freed her and transported her to hospital, where doctors continued intensive treatment for two days.
Police Investigate How the Crash Happened
The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.
Taiwanese police said the bus driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the right turn and the pedestrian crossing to determine how the collision occurred and where legal responsibility lies.
According to CNA, police plan to refer the case to prosecutors and investigate it in connection with possible negligent homicide under Taiwanese law. That is an investigative classification, not a finding of guilt.
The Singapore representative office in Taipei was also contacted to assist the victim’s family, according to earlier reports.
Bus Operator Cooperating With Authorities
The bus involved was operated by Kuo-Kuang Motor Transportation, one of Taiwan’s major intercity bus operators.
Following the initial crash, the company said its general manager had visited the family at the hospital and that staff were providing assistance. The company also said it would cooperate with the police investigation, while its insurer would handle subsequent claims.
The driver’s account reported in local media indicated that he believed he had checked the crossing before turning. A witness separately told local media that the bus appeared to be moving slowly.
Those accounts remain part of the evidence being examined by authorities, and investigators have not yet issued a final determination on fault.
Pedestrian Safety Remains a Concern in Taiwan
The fatal crash has also renewed attention on pedestrian safety in Taiwan.
Taiwan has introduced tougher measures aimed at protecting pedestrians, including increased penalties for drivers who fail to yield and efforts to improve pedestrian infrastructure.
Despite those measures, pedestrian safety remains an ongoing issue. Taipei Times, citing government data, reported that pedestrian deaths fell from 394 in 2022 to 380 in 2023 and 366 in both 2024 and 2025. There were 157 pedestrian deaths during the first six months of 2026, according to the same data.
The figures underline why crashes involving pedestrians continue to receive significant public attention even as Taiwan works to improve road safety.
Investigation Continues
The woman’s death has transformed what initially appeared to be a serious traffic accident into a fatality investigation.
Authorities are expected to examine traffic-camera footage, witness accounts, the driver’s actions and other evidence as they determine the circumstances of the collision.
For the Singaporean family, a holiday in Taiwan has ended in tragedy. For investigators, the immediate task is to establish precisely how the crash occurred and whether any traffic or criminal liability should follow.
The case remains under investigation, and no final determination of responsibility has been announced.
