NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A breakfast shop owner sold food to stranded drivers after an accident occurred on a bridge in New Taipei City's Sanchong District on Tuesday morning (Aug. 20).
Around 5:50 a.m., a 36-ton steel beam fell from a semi-trailer truck, damaging the soundproof wall and sending debris onto two cars below. The loose beam trapped drivers, including the breakfast vendor behind the vehicle on the bridge, causing significant delays. No injuries have been reported.
Police arrived and administered a breathalyzer test to the 34-year-old driver, surnamed Hung (洪). Authorities discovered the truck was overloaded by 10,270 kilograms and fined the driver NT$10,000 for overloading and up to NT$18,000 for the loose cargo.
The driver, who damaged the bridge, may face charges of offenses against public safety and was taken to the police station.
New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Chu Ti-chih (朱惕之) stated that while the bridge's main structure remained intact, the guardrail and wing plate suffered damage and may require one to two months for repairs.
This accident occurred on a critical route connecting Sanchong District to Xinzhuang Xinzhuang District and Taipei City, potentially plunging the area into a traffic crisis.
