TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — Prosecutors on Wednesday (Aug. 28) concluded the investigation into the Taichung MRT crane boom collapse, leading to charges against two individuals. The Taichung District Prosecutors Office (台中地檢署) indicted a worker, surnamed Lu, and a site commander, surnamed Hsu, for negligent homicide, while Highwealth Construction (興富發公司) and related construction companies were not charged.
The accident occurred on May 10, 2023, at the Wen Xin Ai Yue (文心愛悅) construction site. During the dismantling of a tower crane, a 40-meter-long, 3.3-ton crane boom fell, piercing a Taichung MRT train. The incident resulted in one death and 15 injuries.
Authorities detained eight individuals, including the site manager surnamed Tsai, for questioning after the incident. They sent Tsai and the others to the prosecutors on suspicion of negligent homicide.
Prosecutors reviewed witness testimonies, construction plans, surveillance footage, and the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board's (國家運輸安全調查委員會) investigation report. Based on the evidence, they decided to only indict Lu and Hsu.
The investigation concluded that Tsai and other workers were only assisting with auxiliary commands on the first floor. As a result, prosecutors found insufficient evidence to charge Tsai, Highwealth Construction, and other involved companies, leading to their non-indictment.