East Taiwan Green Expo closes after visitor killed by runaway tourist train

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Yilan Green Expo will close for one day Saturday after a passenger died when he was hit by an out-of-control trackless tourist train.

The accident happened Friday afternoon when the driver took the electric train back to recharge. The brakes failed, the driver lost control, and the train hit two visitors before it overturned.

One of the visitors, a resident of New Taipei called Yu (游), aged 78, showed no signs of life after he was struck down by the train, and was pronounced dead at a hospital. His wife, also aged 78, was stuck under the train. Members of the public pushed and pulled the train carriage up to free her. She was taken to a hospital to be treated for a fractured right arm.

The county government ordered the expo at the Wulaokeng Scenic Area near Suao closed for one day Saturday, as prosecutors would investigate the incident and inspect the train.