2 workers charged after crane accident in Taichung MRT

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) — Prosecutors have charged two construction workers for their involvement in a 2023 accident in which a crane boom fell onto the Taichung MRT tracks and was hit by a moving train, leaving one of the workers dead and 15 others injured.

A worker surnamed Hsu (許), who operated the crane, and the crane operator surnamed Lu (呂) were charged with negligent homicide and negligent causing personal injury on Wednesday, the Taichung District Prosecutors' Office said in a press release on Thursday.

An investigation revealed that the two men did not comply with the relevant building regulations when dismantling a crane boom on a construction site above the tracks on May 10, 2023, which directly led to the fatal accident, the public prosecutor's office said.

Meanwhile, six other people involved in construction and operational work have been investigated by the public prosecutor's office, including the construction manager. However, due to a lack of evidence, no charges have been brought against them.

However, since the accident resulted in one death and serious injuries, prosecutors also suggested that relevant authorities establish operating guidelines for cranes and advised Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp. to revise its emergency protocols, the statement added.

The public prosecutor's office has dropped the case against an MRI employee. She was initially investigated as a possible defendant because she was not found to have violated emergency protocols at the time of the accident, according to a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office.

A family member of the deceased had originally filed charges of negligent homicide against Highwealth Construction Corp., Chyi-yuh Construction and United Machinery International Enterprise Co., Ltd. – the construction company and contractors. However, in Taiwan, legal entities do not have criminal jurisdiction, meaning companies cannot be prosecuted, the spokesperson said.

Regarding the indictment, the Taichung City Government said it respects the decision of the judicial system.

Earlier this year, Highwealth Construction paid NT$210.17 million (US$6.659 million) in compensation to the city and another NT$12.64 million to Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp. The company also said it had made payments to the deceased woman's family and to those injured, but declined to disclose the amount of the compensation.