Two women killed, one hurt by allegedly drunk driver

A 35-year-old Taiwanese man was arrested after allegedly killing two Vietnamese women and injuring a third by plowing his vehicle into the  trio as they were riding electric bikes, like a “bowling ball hitting skittles,” in Changhua county, central Taiwan.

The driver, surnamed Cho, had had a late dinner with friends on January 12 and reportedly became very drunk, according to the preliminary investigation by Hemei Police Precinct, United Daily News reported on Monday.

Nevertheless, Cho insisted on driving home along Hegang Road toward Shengang. Closed-circuit television footage showed his vehicle drifting sideways.

Meanwhile, three Vietnamese factory workers, all surnamed Nguyen and in their 20s, were making their way back to their hostel after work riding on electric-powered bicycles.

The vehicle first hit the 20-year-old woman who was riding in the last position of the trio. The second victim, 26, was sent flying and fell into a trench by the road. The last victim, 23, was trapped in the front of the smashed car.

Cho himself was trapped inside the vehicle, which came to halt only by bumping into a power pole, according to the report.

The second and third victims were pronounced death at the scene by paramedics, while the first victim luckily suffered only minor injuries.

The 26-year-old was a widowed mother of two children while the 23-year-old was engaged and planning to have her wedding during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

Cho, whose vehicle left no skid marks or any signs that he had attempted to slow down, has been charged with an offense against public safety and criminal negligence.