TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — Taichung Metro (台中捷運公司) promised to compensate the deputy station chief who passed away on the way to work according to relevant regulations on Sunday (Sept. 22).
On Sept. 11, the 40-year-old deputy chief, surnamed Hsu, collapsed on an escalator at Sihwei Elementary School Station (四維國小站) and succumbed to his condition after several days of medical efforts.
Surveillance footage showed the deputy chief collapsing at 9:09 p.m. A passenger discovered him at 9:10 p.m. and reported it. The station chief arrived to assist at 9:11 p.m.
Critics, including Taichung Metro employees, blamed the company's decision to redeploy station security to train cars following a previous stabbing incident. This move allegedly left the station understaffed, causing a delay in the rescue response.
Joy Chen (陳俞融), a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Taichung City councilor, urged the Taichung City Government to review staffing arrangements immediately. She emphasized that train cars and stations should have personnel to prevent communication breakdowns.
Lee Chung (李中), a Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) councilor, noted that Taichung Metro implemented cost-cutting measures due to financial losses. He argued that the company should carefully consider how to manage staffing to ensure passenger and operational safety.