How Did 2 People Die When a BMW Slammed Into a Parked Truck at the Xinhua Service Area in Tainan, Taiwan?

Two people were killed at about 5:00am on Tuesday 21 October 2026 when a BMW car crashed at high speed into a parked lorry at the Xinhua service area on National Highway 3 in Tainan, Taiwan. The front of the car drove straight underneath the truck, and both the driver and the passenger — a man and a woman in their 60s — died at the scene.

What happened

The crash happened at around 5:00am at the 350.6 kilometre mark on the northbound carriageway of National Highway 3, at the Xinhua service area. According to the United Daily News, the BMW was entering the service area when, for reasons that are still unclear, it drove at high speed into a large lorry parked in the large-vehicle parking bay.

The impact was devastating. The front of the car crumpled and was forced underneath the truck, and the driver's seat area was sheared flat. Photos from the scene showed the car reduced to wreckage.

The rescue response

The Tainan City Fire Bureau sent seven vehicles and 15 firefighters from the Guanmiao and Gueiren stations to the scene. Firefighters used heavy cutting equipment to free the two occupants from the wreckage, but both were already dead and were not taken to hospital.

Investigation and road closures

The Xinhua service area was closed to traffic after the crash, and drivers on the northbound carriageway were advised to divert. The exact cause of the crash is still being investigated by the highway police.

Frequently asked questions

When and where did the crash happen?

At about 5:00am on 21 October 2026, at the 350.6 km mark of National Highway 3 northbound, at the Xinhua service area in Tainan, Taiwan.

How many people died?

Two — the driver and the passenger of the BMW, a man and a woman in their 60s. Both died at the scene and were not taken to hospital.

What exactly happened?

A BMW car entering the Xinhua service area struck a large lorry parked in the large-vehicle bay at high speed. The front of the car was driven underneath the truck and the vehicle was wrecked.

Who responded to the crash?

The Tainan City Fire Bureau dispatched seven vehicles and 15 firefighters from its Guanmiao and Gueiren stations. Crews used cutting equipment to free the occupants from the wreckage.

What happens next?

The Xinhua service area was closed after the crash, and the highway police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.