62-year-old OFW killed in highway crash in Taiwan
A 62-year-old Filipina was killed in a three-vehicle crash along a highway in Miaoli County, Taiwan, while she was on her way to the airport to catch a flight to Manila.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office expressed its condolences to the family of the victim identified as Ebelia Escalona Cortes, saying she died following a road incident along Freeway No. 1 in Miaoli County on Aug. 19.
"The family of Ms. Cortes conveyed its intention to pursue available remedies in connection with the incident," it said. "MECO has assured the family of all possible assistance in this regard."
The repatriation of Cortes' remains to the Philippines is scheduled for Aug. 30.
Two other Filipino nationals, Gloria Tiu Chua and Gerald Ritkie Tiu Chua, sustained minor injuries in the crash and received medical treatment. According to MECO, the injured Filipinos completed the necessary medical and immigration requirements and safely returned to the Philippines on Aug. 23.
Citing Taiwan police, local media outlet Focus Taiwan reported that Cortes was in a van heading to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport with three other passengers when the tragedy happened.
The van initially rear-ended a Tesla sedan at around the 147-kilometer mark of the freeway. After the initial collision, the van driver, a 45-year-old man surnamed Chiang, and the 36-year-old Tesla driver, a woman surnamed Lee, got out of their cars and stood between the two vehicles to discuss the crash.
A third vehicle, driven by a 51-year-old woman surnamed Lin, then struck the van. The impact pushed the vehicle into Chiang, Lee, and the Tesla, resulting in fatal injuries, police said.
When rescuers arrived, the Filipino passenger and both drivers were in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. She and Chiang were later pronounced dead. Lee initially regained a heartbeat after resuscitation but remained in a coma, per local authorities.
