A devastating traffic accident near Bei Da Elementary School in New Taipei City’s Sanxia District on Monday afternoon has left three dead and 13 injured, most of them schoolchildren. The tragedy, which unfolded at approximately 4 p.m. on May 19, 2025, has not only shocked the local community but also sparked urgent conversations about elderly driver regulations, pedestrian safety protocols, and urban infrastructure near school zones.
📍 What Happened?
According to the New Taipei Education Department and Sanxia Police, the accident occurred at the intersection of Guocheng Road and Guoguang Street, a location frequented by students walking home from nearby schools. During a period designated for “pedestrian protection”, where all directions of vehicular traffic are supposed to halt with red lights, a car driven by a 78-year-old man (surname Yu) suddenly ran the signal and plowed into the crowd.
Casualties
- 3 Fatalities: Two teenage girls from Sanxia Junior High and a woman in her 40s.
- 13 Injured: The majority are junior high students, and one is a preschooler.
- Hospitals Involved: En Chu Kong Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial (Tucheng branch), and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (Banqiao District).
👨⚕️ Condition of the Driver
Police confirmed the elderly driver had a valid license and tested negative for alcohol, but was found unconscious at the scene due to his own injuries. He was unresponsive and has not yet been interrogated. Initial police findings confirm the vehicle ran a red light, sideswiped three motorcycles and a bicycle, before crashing into a traffic island along Lane 132 of Fuxing Road.
🎒 School Response
Liu Wen-chang, principal of Bei Da Elementary School, stated that most elementary students were still in class when the incident occurred. He acknowledged that many of the victims were from Sanxia Junior High, which has a staggered dismissal schedule.
The New Taipei Education Department has dispatched counselors to affected schools to assist traumatized students and families.
🛑 Safety Systems & Urban Risks
What’s particularly alarming is that the intersection’s pedestrian protection mode was active—a setting designed to stop all vehicle traffic simultaneously to allow pedestrians to cross safely. This mode should provide maximum safety. However, it clearly failed to prevent this catastrophe.
This has raised questions about:
- Driver cognition and reflexes in the elderly
- Vehicle malfunction vs. human error
- Effectiveness of red-light monitoring in school zones
- Insufficient physical barriers between sidewalks and roads in high-risk pedestrian areas
🧠 Expert Commentary
Dr. Huang Wei-chih, a transportation safety expert from National Taiwan University, noted:
“Incidents like this emphasize that technical safety measures are not sufficient when drivers lose control due to age-related cognitive decline or misjudgment. We need to revisit mandatory cognitive assessments for drivers above 70.”
Social media has also erupted in calls for reforms, especially demanding more stringent licensing renewals for elderly drivers, and some suggest adding physical pedestrian gates during school hours similar to railway crossings.
🧵 Policy Implications and What’s Next?
Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation is now under public pressure to:
- Re-evaluate driving license renewal policies for elderly drivers.
- Introduce smart alert systems that actively prevent red-light violations in school zones.
- Review pedestrian protection protocols and install physical barriers near school crossings.
- Increase surveillance and enforcement during school dismissal hours.
Meanwhile, the New Taipei Police Department has promised a full investigation into what caused the driver to run a red light during a pedestrian-only phase.
FAQs
Who were the victims of the New Taipei accident?
Two teenage female students from Sanxia Junior High School and a woman in her 40s died; most of the injured were students.
Was the driver intoxicated or unlicensed?
No. The 78-year-old driver had a valid license and tested negative for alcohol but is in a coma.
How did the accident occur during “pedestrian protection mode”?
The driver ran a red light during an all-red signal designed to let pedestrians cross safely.
Were there any mechanical failures involved?
At this stage, police have not ruled out mechanical failure, but no evidence has yet been presented.
What are the public’s concerns following this accident?
Public outrage centers around elderly driver safety, school zone protection, and the reliability of pedestrian traffic protocols.
