Woman crashes into Miaoli cafe, killing one - Taipei Times

A man died after a car driven by a 71-year-old woman crashed into a coffee shop in Miaoli County's Toufen Township (頭份) yesterday morning while turning into a parking space, police said.

The incident occurred at about 7am when the driver, surnamed Lin (林), was traveling from Section 2 of Jianguo Road toward Zhongyang Road, the Toufen police precinct said in a statement.

Lin then made a right turn before the intersection into the parking area in front of the chain coffee shop, but for unknown reasons she drove directly into the shop, shattering glass and injuring a customer in the process, the precinct said.

Photo courtesy of police via CNA

According to another customer who witnessed the incident, the car did not slow down and "just drove straight in."

The Miaoli County Fire Bureau said in a statement that first responders found a man surnamed Lai (賴) disoriented and responsive only to stimuli upon arrival. He was transported to the hospital but later died despite emergency treatment.

Police said officers responded to the report of the crash and ruled out the possibility that Lin was driving under the influence of alcohol, but the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Later, Lin told reporters she did not know why the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the shop, adding that she was shaken by the incident and prayed for the man who was hit.