79-year-old woman fatally struck by train after walking on track

Taoyuan, April 29 (CNA) A 79-year-old woman died after being struck by a train at a level crossing in Taoyuan on Tuesday, police said.

The woman, identified by her surname Wang (王), entered the tracks without authorization in the Neili area of Zhongli District, according to the Taoyuan Branch of the Railway Police Bureau.

Surveillance footage showed that the railway barriers were already lowered when Wang entered the crossing, the police said, but why Wang ventured onto the track remains under investigation.

Police said they received a report of an incident at 6:41 a.m. involving local train No. 2133 that was heading from Keelung to Chiayi. They then collected evidence at the scene until 7:24 a.m., and the train was cleared to depart at 8:01 a.m.

During this time, trains between Taoyuan Station and Neili Station were temporarily restricted to two-way service on the westbound track until 8:19 a.m., when regular double-track operations resumed, according to Taiwan Railway.

The incident affected 30 trains, leading to total delays of 691 minutes, the company said.