1 killed in Taoyuan recycling truck crash; 6 injured including driver

Taoyuan, Jan. 23 (CNA) A recycling truck driver reportedly lost consciousness on Friday evening, causing the vehicle to crash into a crowd of people throwing trash into a garbage truck, killing a 78-year-old woman, according to local authorities.

The accident, which occurred around 6 p.m. on Chunghsing Road in Taoyuan's Guishan District, left six others injured, including the 52-year-old driver of the recycling truck surnamed Wu (吳), who were all taken to hospital, according to the city's Fire Department.

The 78-year-old woman, surnamed Chiu (邱), was trapped underneath the truck and reportedly had no vital signs at the scene. She was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead.

According to authorities, the casualties include an 83-year-old woman surnamed Ting (丁), who suffered an open fracture to her right leg, and a 39-year-old man surnamed Huang (黃), who sustained an exposed wound to his leg and abdominal pain.

Other victims include a 61-year-old woman surnamed Chen (陳) with multiple abrasions, a 31-year-old man surnamed Lu (呂) suffering from head and limb pain, and a 52-year-old foreign woman -- whose nationality has not been disclosed by the authorities -- who sustained a head injury.

According to the city's Department of Environment Protection, the driver has no significant medical history and passed a mandatory breathalyzer test before his shift began.

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation by the police.