Woman survives jump but kills passer-by

Woman survives jump but kills passer-by

Tue, Jul 29, 2008
The Straits Times

TAIPEI - A TAIWANESE woman plunged from a rooftop in what was believed to be a suicide attempt, but landed on and killed a passer-by, local media reported yesterday.

Ms Kuo Mei-hui, 64, fell from the roof of a five-storey apartment building in Chungho city near Taipei at about 2pm last Saturday, the Liberty Times reported.

She landed on 53-year-old Ms Lee Mei-yun, who was returning home with her husband, the report said.

Ms Lee had moved below the building's awning to avoid an oncoming vehicle, only to have Ms Kuo land on her instead.

Both women fell to the ground and were seriously injured.

Ms Lee later died in hospital from a brain haemorrhage, while Ms Kuo survived.

A report in the China Post quoted Ms Kuo's neighbours as saying that she had been ill for a long time and had attempted suicide several times.

Taiwan has one of the highest suicide rates in Asia. Last year, more than 3,900 Taiwanese killed themselves, an average of one suicide every two hours.