KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (July 23, 2025)— A major power outage that struck parts of Niaosong and Fengshan Districts early Wednesday morning was caused by a shocking incident: a 15-year-old junior high school student behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a Taipower electrical box. Authorities later discovered drugs inside the vehicle, along with two underage passengers, including another teen and a 20-year-old man.
Taipower reported that the accident occurred around 4:43 a.m., knocking out electricity to approximately 455 households. Affected areas included Honkan Road and Qiuchang Road in Niaosong District, as well as Section 2 of Qingnian Road and Binshan Street in Fengshan District.
Emergency crews worked quickly, restoring power by 5:55 a.m. However, the heavily damaged power box remained lodged on top of the vehicle and had to be removed with a crane later in the day. Taipower plans to continue repairs and will seek damages from the driver involved.
Police said the vehicle, a black sedan, was seen running a red light in the early hours of the morning. Officers from the Renwu Precinct attempted to pull the car over, but the driver refused to stop, prompting a high-speed chase that stretched over five kilometers and lasted seven minutes.
The pursuit ended on Chengqing Road, where the car lost control and slammed into the Taipower unit. The impact severely damaged the front of the vehicle but fortunately did not result in injuries to bystanders.
Inside the car were three individuals: the teenage driver, a 13-year-old passenger who is also a junior high school student, and a 20-year-old man surnamed Cai. Upon inspection, officers discovered various illegal substances, including ketamine, “zombie cigarette” cartridges (believed to contain the sedative etomidate), and drug-laced coffee packets.
The young driver initially claimed the car belonged to a family member, but further investigation revealed it was not registered to his parents. Police issued citations for multiple violations, including driving without a license, endangering public safety, evading law enforcement, and running red lights. The total possible fines could reach NT$126,000. The registered owner of the vehicle also faces penalties.
The three suspects were taken into custody, and the case has been handed over to prosecutors under Taiwan’s Juvenile Delinquency Act, Criminal Code related to public endangerment, and the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
Officials expressed serious concern over the growing trend of drug use among minors and called for stronger parental oversight and community intervention to prevent similar incidents in the future.
