Truck owner admits guilt over Taiwan train disaster

THE owner of a construction truck that caused Taiwan’s worst rail accident in decades killing 48 people has apologised in tears while being led away from his home by police.

The unmanned truck’s emergency brake was not properly engaged, according to the government’s disaster relief centre.

An investigation is under way as to how exactly Lee Yi-hsiang’s vehicle slid down onto the tracks from a nearby construction site on the mountainous coast of eastern Hualien county.

The truck was hit by a passenger train carrying 494 people, which derailed just before entering a tunnel, crushing many passengers inside the mangled carriages.

The death toll was revised down to 48 yesterday after rescuers initially said 51, then 50 people were killed.

The changes came after some body parts were found to belong to one individual, the Central Emergency Operation Centre said.

At least 198 people were injured.

“I have caused a serious accident on the Taiwan Railway Administrations’ Taroko train number 480 during this year’s Tomb Sweeping Holidays, causing deaths and injuries, to this I express my remorse and my sincerest apologies,” said Lee.

“I will cooperate with the authorities’ investigation fully, and take responsibility.”

Prosecutors in Hualien county previously said they were seeking an arrest warrant for the truck’s owner, who was questioned along with several others.

The Hualien district court initially allowed Lee to post bail of 500,000 new Taiwan dollars, but that decision was reversed yesterday when a higher court in Hualien rescinded the lower court’s decision to allow bail, Taiwan’scentralnewsagency reported.

Train travel is popular during Taiwan’s four-day Tomb Sweeping holiday, when families often return to their home towns to pay respects at the gravesites of their elders. It is also an opportunity for a holiday.

Taiwan is a mountainous island, and most of its 24 million people live in the flatlands along the northern and western coasts that are home to most of the island’s farmland, biggest cities and high-tech industries.

The lightly populated east where the crash happened is popular as a tourist destination, and the railway line is known for its beautiful natural scenery.

Repair work had begun on the tracks at the weekend including the tunnel where part of the eight-car train crashed.