A Taiwan Railway express train struck an 86-year-old man riding an electric mobility scooter at a level crossing in Changhua, leaving him fighting for his life.

• The man crossed the tracks on his scooter as a northbound express train approached and could not brake in time.
• He was rushed to hospital in Yuanlin with head injuries and a broken leg, and lost his pulse on arrival.
• Rail police and emergency crews were called to the scene; the reason he entered the crossing is still unclear.
• Trains between Shetou and Tianzhong were forced onto a single track, delaying services in both directions.

Outlook: Rail police will investigate how the scooter ended up on the crossing, and safety at rural level crossings is likely to come under fresh scrutiny.