EastSouthWestNorth: Taiwanese Trucker Ran Over Journalists

Taiwanese Trucker Ran Over Journalists

(DFA) Taiwanese trucker runs over reporters during demonstration. December 6, 2007.

Five Taiwanese journalists were injured when a man rammed his truck into a group of TV reporters Thursday during a demonstration over the renaming of a memorial to late nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek. Wang Jui-chang of the cable news network ETTV was in critical condition after being crushed under the vehicle. 'The journalist has bone factures in several places, internal bleeding, liver and lung injuries, and serious concussion,' said a doctor at the National Taiwan University Hospital. Other injured reporters were released from hospital after treatment.

The driver, identified as Peng Sheng-lin, rammed his truck into a crowd rallying in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to support the demolition of two plaques erected to commemorate the late leader. A rival crowd was nearby protesting against the demolition. 'I thought they wanted to rob me. I just passed by and they blocked my way. I was on my way to work,' Peng claimed after he was pulled from the truck, whose windshield was smashed by the angry crowd. Police arrested Peng on charges of attempted manslaughter.

(Phoenix TV)

Dictator's Plaza

Thieves' Heaven

ETTV cameraman Wang Jui-chang

Truck driver Peng Sheng-lin

(TVBS) The sudden action by the truck caught all the media workers by surprise. The ETTV journalist was rammed by the truck and fell to the ground, but he kept filming. Another cameraman on the side saw what happened but kept filming even as tears began to fell out of his eyes. He said, "I could not believe that this could be happening to my colleague, but I feel that I needed to use the camera to record what was happening. But I was so shocked that I could not hold back my tears."

目睹同事遭衝撞　拍攝掙扎掉淚 Yam (video)