34-year-old motorcycle rider who declined hospital treatment dies

New Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) A 34-year-old motorcycle rider involved in a traffic accident in New Taipei's Xindian District on Saturday died several hours after initially declining hospital treatment.

The male rider, surnamed Hsu (徐), collided with an 86-year-old man on a bicycle, surnamed Liu (劉), who also died, around 3 p.m., according to the New Taipei City Fire Department.

Hsu sustained head and elbow injuries and was taken to Cardinal Tien Hospital. Upon arrival, he told paramedics he would return on his own after getting lunch, the department said.

After returning on his own to the hospital at 3:31 p.m., Hsu began losing consciousness around 3:55 p.m. and died roughly two hours later despite efforts to resuscitate him.

The fire department urged the public to seek medical attention after a car accident, even if no obvious injuries are visible, due to the risk of head trauma or internal bleeding.

Hsu's father told reporters Sunday that his son had been in normal health before the incident, describing him as "strong as an ox."

He said he could not understand how his son suddenly died, given that after the crash he was still able to walk into the hospital on his own to fill out paperwork.

According to Kao Ta-cheng (高大成), a forensic expert interviewed by local media, Hsu may have suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which can be difficult to detect in its early stages when the bleeding is minimal.

Those who feel discomfort, nausea or dizziness after a collision or fall should observe their condition for at least one week, he said.

The exact causes of the two men's deaths are yet to be determined by an autopsy, while the cause of the accident is also under investigation, according to local police.