One killed, 14 injured in truck-bus collision in New Taipei

New Taipei, July 23 (CNA) One person was killed and 14 others were injured Wednesday when a semi-trailer truck carrying steel bars collided head-on with a bus in New Taipei City's Wanli District, local authorities said.

The victim, a 39-year-old passenger surnamed Yu (游), was found without vital signs near the front of the bus and later pronounced dead at the hospital, local emergency services said.

The 31-year-old truck driver, surnamed Yeh (葉), was trapped in the crumpled cabin for more than two hours before being freed and taken to Tri-Service General Hospital's Neihu branch with serious injuries but fully conscious, the hospital said.

The collision was reported at 7:50 a.m. on Zhongfu Road, police said. Authorities initially reported 13 injuries and one person without vital signs, but later confirmed one dead and 14 injured, all of whom were hospitalized or transported from the scene.

Passengers told local media they were asleep when the crash jolted them awake, sending shattered glass flying. Despite their injuries, they said they quickly escaped from the bus.

According to the New Taipei City Police Department's Jinshan Precinct, the semi-trailer truck was headed to a factory in Wanli when it veered into the oncoming lane and collided with the bus.

In a statement, Kuo-Kuang Motor Transportation Co. said the bus was nearly fully loaded with 42 people, including the driver, and had departed Jinshan Youth Activity Center at 7:10 a.m. en route to Taipei.

The company said it has assembled a team to assist with the aftermath, including visiting the injured passengers.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, police said.