Driver survives six-story plunge into Keelung River after freeway crash

A man was rescued after his car fell into the Keelung River from a height of around twenty meters, after a crash on an elevated section of Highway 1 in Taipei City this morning, October 16.

National Highway Police received reports of a crash at the 19-kilometer mark in the northbound lanes of the Xiwu Elevated Expressway at around 5:45 am. It was reported that a single vehicle had hit the guardrail and plunged over the edge into the Keelung River.

When police and firefighters arrived, the 26-year-old driver, named Wei, had already escaped from the vehicle and had swum to shore.

Wei said that he was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and had fallen asleep at the wheel before the accident. Wei suffered a cut to his chin and was sent to Neihu Tri-Service General Hospital for treatment and a medical examination. A blood test showed that Wei was not affected by alcohol at the time of the crash.

Picture: TCFD

Police said that the elevated road was 17 meters above the river, the equivalent of around six stories. Firefighters launched an inflatable boat and conducted a search to confirm there were no other occupants of the vehicle.

The Highway Bureau dispatched a crane to salvage the submerged vehicle.

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