One victim airlifted to Beijing

One of two women who were mowed down by a taxicab in Gualo Rai on Thursday night was still in critical condition yesterday and was scheduled to be flown to Beijing, China, last night for an operation and further medical treatment, Saipan Tribune learned.

A staff at Eucon International University disclosed that Li Chen, 51, was still in the intensive care unit of the Commonwealth Health Center as of yesterday.

The staff, who asked not to be identified, said that Chen needs to be operated on in China as CHC has no orthopedic specialist.

The employee said Chen was not immediately airlifted to China because of her unstable condition and flight availability.

Chen sustained a laceration on the head, broken thigh bones on both legs, and had blood in her left lung.

The staff said the other victim, Zhang Hong Li, was expected to be released from CHC yesterday. Li sustained a laceration on the head and bruises on her left leg, police said.

The Eucon staff said Chen and Li were actually standing near the school’s gate when the taxicab hit them.

The staff said Chen and Li were training to become educators at Eucon. Chen just arrived on Saipan three weeks ago, according to the employee. There was no immediate information as to when Li arrived on the island.

The staff said the speeding taxicab had swerved to avoid hitting other educators/trainees who were crossing the crosswalk, resulting in the car speeding straight toward Chen and Li who were standing near the school’s gate.

The staff said the educators/trainees, including the two victims, were at that time heading to the school’s dormitory, which is located across Chalan Pale Arnold (Middle Road).

The staff said the taxicab’s company is not coordinating with the school, but the insurance company has been helping them.

He said their “brothers and sisters” in school have also been helping the victims.

Taxi driver Amrita Lal Sarker, 40, was allegedly speeding and driving recklessly when he hit and seriously injured Chen and Li. His four passengers were also hurt.

Sarker is still in jail after failing to post a $10,000 bail on charges of reckless driving, violating pedestrians’ right of way at crosswalks, failing to exercise due care, failing to drive on the right side of the highway, and violating the speed limit.

Sarker’s four tourist passengers suffered minor injuries.

One of the passengers told police that Sarker was driving fast and did not use his brakes as they approached the crosswalk and just swerved to avoid hitting the crossing pedestrians.

The silver 2008 Toyota Camry, with license plate TAXI-1832, had extensive damage on the front section after hitting a concrete gatepost near the main entrance of the Eucon International University.

Police and medics responded to the scene at 9:20pm.