American man killed in Kenting traffic accident

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
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41

It’s a tragedy that it happened, but not surprising that it happened during Spring Scream. I feel at ease renting a scooter out there and taking on the hills and cliffs overlooking the ocean hundreds of feet below, despite being hesitant to drive even a car. When Spring Scream takes place, however, the place gets filled with drunks with a me-first attitude (“I want to party” “I want want to get trashed”, etc.). It’s very similar to what happens to beach towns during spring break in the States.

Reckless, selfish behavior + mass alcohol consumption=accidents like this.

42

Ironically enough, one of the most famous forensic experts in the States is Taiwanese.

drhenrylee.com/about/[/quote]

Dr. Lee refers to himself as Chinese. He was born in China and studied in Taiwan. Unless you’re thinking of another.

OOC

43

Ok,I thought he was born in Taiwan and not China.

44

Dr. Lee’s often referred as “Taiwanese American” here in the US but I don’t know whether he regards himself as a Chinese or Taiwnaese immigrant.

Speaking of “CSI: Taiwan” and its potential of being a “comedy,” Dr. Lee does not work in Taiwan. I hope there are serious interest in developing this kind of science and training qualified specialists in Taiwan.

45

Death Penalty.

Really. That would nip a lot of incidents in the bud as a PREVENTATIVE measure.

In developed nations I do not support the death penalty, but in Taiwan, where human life is deligated to the backburner for such petty things like: money, face and status - the only way to keep it to a minimum (and drunken driving is a social disease in Taiwan, as is hit-and-run) is to slap a death penalty to such crimes.

A true democracy would have a larger role in shaping its society.

46

I hope this terrible incident will increase in attention as time goes on.
The miscreants who are responsible deserve more and greater public attention both here on the island and in the United States.
Has AIT in Kaoshiung issued a statement or been contacted about this?

47

[quote=“ajklin”]Dr. Lee’s often referred as “Taiwanese American” here in the US but I don’t know whether he regards himself as a Chinese or Taiwnaese immigrant.

Speaking of “CSI: Taiwan” and its potential of being a “comedy,” Dr. Lee does not work in Taiwan. I hope there are serious interest in developing this kind of science and training qualified specialists in Taiwan.[/quote]

I was lucky enough to hear him speak in New England. I believe his phrase was “American Chinese.”

He does work in Taiwan, at least as a consultant. He did a certain amount of work on the President’s shooting.

His work is about the only thing I would exclude from my scarcastic comments on CSI:Taiwan.

OOC

48

[quote=“Ric Flair”]Death Penalty.

Really. That would nip a lot of incidents in the bud as a PREVENTATIVE measure…[/quote]

Is there still death penalty in Taiwan? Under the KMT regime, there was death penalty. Was the law and order much better back then? Many bizarre or horrific stories I’ve heard about traffic accidents and the handling of them happened long time ago. I don’ think there was anyone who had been given the death penalthy because he/she (drunk driving, hit-n-run, or reckless driving) killed someone in a car accident.

In cases like the offender getting off the hook easily and the innocent being threatened or forced to pay for someone else’s fault, I’d wish there IS hell and those who deserve do end up there.

49

[quote=“ajklin”]

Is there still death penalty in Taiwan? Under the KMT regime, there was death penalty. Was the law and order much better back then? Many bizarre or horrific stories I’ve heard about traffic accidents and the handling of them happened long time ago. I don’ think there was anyone who had been given the death penalthy because he/she (drunk driving, hit-n-run, or reckless driving) killed someone in a car accident.

In cases like the offender getting off the hook easily and the innocent being threatened or forced to pay for someone else’s fault, I’d wish there IS hell and those who deserve do end up there.[/quote]

My point is that Taiwanese social corruption has gone on for too long and the implementation of the death penalty for hit and run traffic offences that occur when the driver was drinking would be reduced. I realize that it would not be perfect, but it would be better than how it is today.

Additionally, adding the death penalty to kidnapping (which I believe exists today, but is seldom used - it almost god Hao Shiao Tzu star Yang Jang-guo offed in Taichung for kidnapping a Changhua big wig, but celebs helped for the appeal and he now rots in a Taichung prison) substantially cut down the number of instances - though the deseperate in Taiwan (like elsewhere) will do whatever they want - anyway.

I honestly believe Taiwan cannot survive as a democracy until it has civic responsibility.

The only way this island could rise out of its third world mentality is if they ran it like Singapore.

Outside of Hong Kong - which was colonized - history has a way of showing the world that fundimentally Confucian societies cannot govern in a democratic fashion, based on civic irresponsibility.

There has to be a middle ground, and short of the horrible and pray-it-never-happens act of physicall ydestroying the island and starting from scratch - there has to be a period of strict control and then casual deregulation for this island.

It horrifies me to say this - but it needs a “parent” government. NOT a KMT or China-style government.

When the police can’t do their job (mostly for lack of want) then what order exists for a true democracy to flouris hand its people to benefit?

This is not a slight on the young, American man or the tragedy, but if the locals don’t give a damn about their neighbors, how are they going to give a flyin’g f@#k about visitors? If they don’t give a damn about human life - especially their own - why should I give a damn about their independence?

And in case there is any doubt - no, I don’t hate Taiwan. I simply hold its social decay in contempt.
:raspberry:

50

Ric Flair

If there was a nail to be hit, man you put it in the ground with your above post…
:bravo: :bravo: :bravo: :bravo:

51

— Editted for the easily offended—

I think it is great that the punk local 19 year old waited 4 hours before turning himself in. According to the breathalizer, he was not drunk. That means, that he was fully conscious and aware of his actions when he used his vehical to kill the American. I hope the parents (who live in Taiwan) take this local prick to court on the charge of murder.

Does anyone have a photo of this local prick so that we can plaster it all over the web?

52

I don’t think it is necessary to go off about the fact that the guy was Taiwanese. The way taiwanisfunny uses the word “Taiwanese” definitely makes it the focus of his/her post. Hit-and-runs happen everywhere. I’m just surprised you don’t get more accidents during Spring Scream with almost everybody walking in the middle of the road. It really was a terrible accident, regardless of the race of the parties involved.

53

The word “Taiwanese” does not mean race. Neither does “American.” I was refering to the country of origin. Please do not be so easily offended, especially when you won’t take the time to look up the meaning of a word in a dictionary. Just so you won’t get your panties in a wad, I changed the word to “local.”

54

You think the driver intentionally hit the victim?

55

You think the driver intentionally hit the victim?[/quote]

I believe you meant to type…

You think the driver chose to kill the victim?

I believe the local man-

  1. Chose to drink
  2. Chose to drive his vehical
  3. Chose to swerve in and out of lanes
  4. Chose not to stop
  5. Chose the path the vehical took when it struck the American
  6. Chose not to attempt to administer any kind of first aid
  7. Chose to flee the scene of an accident
  • Once again, does anyone have a photo of this local man? It would be nice to post some photos of him on here. If anything, it could save another foreigner’s life if one should see him on the road in the driver’s seat again.
56

Of course Tiger. Didn’t you know? The guy who hit the American was a rabid, homocidal maniac and was driving around that night with the express intention of running down somebody. Preferably a foriegner. He has absolotely no remorse about the “accident” and deserves to be put to death by stoning.

57

methinks if you were to see him in the drivers seat, it would probably be too late.

but it’s only his first time, he’ll be behind the wheel again soon enough. and killing one person does not necessarily lead to remorse - see my previous post about buddy who slammed into us while pissed drunk, a few years after killing someone while pissed drunk.

i won’t say that there is no remorse, but i can tell you that the guy who hit us was all full of remorse too, especially while trying to weasel out of paying for our car’s damages because he was a poor man with a family. my wife let him off easy :s

58

Is there any accurate/factual information on the/any progress of this incident?

What is happening legal-wise in this matter?

Has his parent/parents made any statement? The local 'authorities?

Anything?

59

Well said!

You might have overheard some parents who would say to their mischieving or crying child that “stop crying (behaving badly) the police is coming!” or “if you don’t stop, the police will come and get you!” One one hand, people are afraid of the police and on the other hand, they don’t respect the police.

The police often can’t, is unable to, or doesn’t want to do their job. When they try and do their jobs, do most people support them? It seems that many ordinary citizens gain from police not doing its job well or not enforcing the law at all.

The men and women of the police come from within the society. It’s the same thing with the members of the legislature. Their quality reflects that of the larger society.

60

If that was true, why mention race/origin at all? It was a hit-and-run accident, something which happens in any country. There is no real information about how the police is reacting in this thread, but it seems that everybody’s enjoying the opportunity to throw in their “Taiwanese society is…” statements.
Attacking the Taiwanese system like that will probably just put people on the defensive, and not get any positive results.
What would be a good way to let the police/government know that people are aware of these kinds of incidents, and would like to see harsher punishment for offenders?