Still in ICU, driver in deadly Sanxia crash yet to be questioned

Taipei, May 26 (CNA) Police have yet to question the driver who was involved in a traffic incident that left three people dead and several others injured in New Taipei last week, the city's police chief said Monday.

The 78-year-old driver surnamed Yu (余) is still under intensive care at hospital and unable to provide a statement, New Taipei Police Commissioner Liao Hsun-cheng (廖訓誠) told city councilors at the New Taipei City Council in Banqiao District.

Due to the issue of admissible evidence, questioning of the suspect can only be done after the hospital determines the suspect's level of consciousness, Liao said.

Despite this, the commissioner said prosecutors are working to gather evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Police have been eager to question the suspect because, despite many guesses about what may have been behind the driver's aggressive behavior in mowing down vehicles and people, his motives remain uncertain.

The deadly car crash in Sanxia District on May 19 happened when Yu ran a red light at high speed before hitting pedestrians and scooter riders near an elementary school, leaving three people dead and 12 injured.

In order to ensure the safety of students commuting to school, Liao said automated traffic law-enforcement systems will be installed at the intersection between Xuecheng Road and Guocheng Street not far from the scene of the incident.

The installations are expected to be completed by the end of July, he said.