Sanxia crash driver drove aimlessly for 20 minutes before incident: Police

Taipei, May 21 (CNA) A 78-year-old man involved in Monday's fatal crash in New Taipei's Sanxia District had been driving aimlessly for about 20 minutes before the incident, police said Wednesday, adding that they are investigating whether this unusual behavior contributed to the cause of the crash.

After reviewing CCTV footage from the area, police identified the driver, surnamed Yu (余), circling nearby streets and passing a park after exiting a freeway, instead of heading directly to his home in Sanxia.

Police said the reason for the detour remains unclear and can only be clarified after Yu regains consciousness.

The crash took place at around 4 p.m., when Yu ran a red light at high speed, hitting pedestrians and scooter riders near Bei Da Elementary School, leaving three dead and 12 injured.

Yu had driven north from central Taiwan earlier that day. Surveillance footage showed he exited the freeway near Sanxia and spent about 20 minutes driving along local streets.

He only began accelerating after turning from Xuecheng Road onto Guocheng Street. No other collisions or ramming attempts were seen before that, police said.

Police refuted online claims that Yu deliberately targeted a female scooter rider, saying there was no indication of any interaction between them.

Yu has undergone two surgeries and is currently in intensive care under 24-hour police watch. Although he briefly opened his eyes, he is still unfit to be questioned, police said.

It remains unclear whether the case constitutes intentional homicide or negligent manslaughter, but legal experts said that establishing intent will be crucial in determining the appropriate charges.