National Taiwan University (NTU) yesterday decided to refer a doctoral candidate to the school’s disciplinary committee after the student allegedly blocked an ambulance on purpose, an incident which has ignited a public fury.
The student surnamed Hsiao (蕭) could be reprimanded or expelled, said NTU dean of student affairs Joyce Feng (馮燕), adding that the committee will make a decision after the judiciary system investigation into the alleged incident is completed.
Under the Act Governing the Punishment of Violation of Road Traffic (道路交通管理處罰條例), anyone who refuses to yield to ambulances, fire trucks or police cars is liable to a fine between NT$600 and NT$1,800.
Hsiao, a 33-year-old history doctoral candidate, was accused of deliberately stopping his car in the middle of the road in New Taipei City’s (新北市, the proposed English name of the upgraded Taipei County) Sindian District (新店) on Friday night, blocking an ambulance transporting an 86-year-old woman in critical conditions.
The woman died shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
Footage from the ambulance’s camera showed the driver also giving the ambulance the middle finger after he blocked the ambulance.
Police were later able to identify Hsiao as the driver from the car, but Hsiao said he suffered an attack of manic-depressive psychosis when hearing the ambulance’s siren.
Despite his defense, his behavior prompted an outcry after the footage was uploaded to the Internet.
Netizens on the Professional Technology Temple bulletin board system launched a search for the driver, identifying him as a doctoral candidate in NTU’s Graduate Institute of History.
Feng said Hsiao has shown remorse for his behavior, adding that the school would offer him legal aid and counseling.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although