At least 3 killed and 12 injured in an accident when a car rammed into a group of mostly students outside a school near Taipei on Monday, police said.The accident occurred around 4:00 pm local time (0800 GMT) when a 78-year-old who was driving the car ran a red light, colliding with three motorbikes and a bicycle before striking students and adults nearby.All the injured were taken to the hospital including the driver. Three later died, including two 12-year-old girls and a 40-year-old woman. Nine of the injured were students aged 12 to 15 from Sanxia Junior High School. The youngest victim was a six-year-old child from a nearby kindergarten.According to police, the driver went unconscious after the crash and had tested negative for alcohol.Police shared video of the accident site showing people performing chest compressions on victims lying in the street, emergency responders assisting the injured, and overturned motorbikes and a bicycle. Sheets of paper and debris were scattered across the intersection.President Lai Ching-te was “shocked and saddened”, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Office. He visited the victims in the hospital on Monday night. President Lai has ordered setting up of a task force to help victims and their families and to investigate the cause of the incident.New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih, who also went to the hospitals, said some of the victims were “still receiving intensive treatment”.“We will clarify the responsibility as soon as possible and give the public an explanation,” Hou said.
