New Taipei mayor vows to assist crash families claim compensation

New Taipei, June 2 (CNA) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said Monday that the city government will assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month's car-ramming incident in Sanxia District to secure compensation, two days after the driver involved died in hospital.

"The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation," Hou told reporters.

The mayor of Taiwan's northernmost metropolis also said that the city's Legal Affairs Department, Education Department and Social Welfare Department have established a joint mechanism to "provide coordinated assistance" to victims and their families.

Three people were killed and 12 others injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their guardians outside Bei Da Elementary School on May 19. The 78-year-old driver, surnamed Yu (余), was among the injured.

Yu died Saturday morning of multiple organ failure at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office said the same day.

Hsu Hung-jen (許宏仁), deputy director of the New Taipei Legal Affairs Department, told CNA that the city enlisted the help of the Association for Victim's Support (AVS) after the incident.

Yu's death does not affect civil liability, and legal claims can still be pursued against his heirs, Hsu said.

If victims require help beyond the AVS's scope, the department will arrange legal assistance, he added.