2 critically injured after SET news van crashes into Taipei bank

Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) Two people were critically injured Friday when a SET TV news van crashed into a Chang Hwa Commercial Bank branch in Taipei's Zhongshan District.

Those critically injured are a 40-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man who were both unconscious when they were sent to National Taiwan University Hospital, emergency responders said.

Another eight people, including pedestrians, customers, and bank staff, suffered cuts and bruises, according to emergency responders, who were alerted at 3:10 p.m. to the incident on Nanjing East Road.

Police said the male driver, surnamed Lin (林), was driving with a single passenger when his van veered off Yijiang Street into the bank while heading south. The vehicle was left half-lodged in the entrance to the bank, which suffered structural damage.

Lin told investigators he had been momentarily distracted. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.

In a statement, SET TV pledged to fully cooperate with authorities and provide support for the injured and their families.