A well-liked middle-aged man, Councilor Chang Mao-yi took his three-year-old adopted daughter out for a ride on his motor bike when they were hit by a truck and were killed at the scene, according to official reports.

The councilor's death was the latest in a series of incidents in Taitung County involving local public officials.

Earlier this year, another councilor killed a passerby in a car accident. In March, Councilor Shih Hsiang-ching passed away from a heart attack while delivering a speech. The superstitious ascribed these unfortunate episodes to the council's proximity to the local morgue, which sits a mere 200 meters away.

Since the council relocated to its current address 10 years ago, three officials have died without serving out their terms and another 41 were accused of embezzlement.