A bridge in Hsinchu, a city in northern Taiwan, partially collapsed after a sprinkler truck traveled on to it, causing pieces of falling concrete to kill a 47-year-old Vietnamese migrant who was fishing underneath the structure on Saturday morning.
At around 9am, the 41-year-old sprinkler-trucker driver, who was heading to Nanliao in the coastal area of Hsinchu on Section 3 of Dongda Road, was allegedly taking a shortcut, the Liberty Times reported.
Thinking that the structure could withstand the weight of the truck, the driver allegedly decided to continue his journey by going across the concrete-paved bridge – which, however, was designated for bicycles only.
Part of the bridge shattered and a large piece of concrete hit the victim on his head, knocking him unconscious.
The victim suffered traumatic injuries to his brain and legs, and lost vital signs at the scene. Paramedics sent him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Preliminary police investigation ruled out the possibility of drunk driving, as an alcohol test result was negative.
The driver, shivering in fear, told the police that he had failed to take note of the fact that heavy vehicles were not allowed on the bridge, but the authorities argued that warning signs were clearly visible at both ends of the structure.
He was detained for further investigation on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death.