Taiwan bus crash
Investigators inspect a bus carrying tourists from mainland China that crashed and caught fire along an expressway on its way to the airport in Taiwan's city of Taoyuan on July 19, 2016 AFP/Getty

A 'suicidal' bus driver deliberately set his vehicle on fire and crashed it, killing himself and 26 passengers in Taiwan, it has been reported. Investigators said Su Ming-cheng poured petrol over the driver's seat and the floor of the tour bus near the exit before setting it alight using a lighter.

The vehicle burst into flames before it smashed into a barrier on a highway killing everyone on board. The Chinese tourists were on their way to catch a flight back home, after completing an eight day tour of the island.

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The driver, who was transporting the group of tourists from China's northeastern city of Dalian is believed to have been drunk at the time of the incident in July.

Local prosecutors said in a statement: "(Su), who was drunk driving, committed suicide by pouring gasoline and setting a fire, killing other passengers."

Investigators had earlier said that five bottles of gasoline were found in the driver's compartment and the luggage hold, suggesting that the fuel was delberately stored on the vehicle to cause a large explosion.

An emergency exit was also found to be locked, which trapped people on board.

Authorities said Su was a regular drinker with a history of violence. He was facing two lawsuits for sexual assault and fighting with a fellow tour guide. He was briefly suspended by his employer in May for another altercation with a colleague.

Prosecutors said he was suffering with depression at the time of the crash as a result of his personal and professional problems.

In the days before the crash, Su had reportedly threatened to take his own life. Phone records revealed conversations with his relatives, who had pleaded with him not to take any drastic actions.

Tawian bus crash
Distraught relatives of 24 Chinese tourists who died after a fire ripped through their bus in Taiwan broke down in tears on July 21 as they arrived on the island to identify their loved ones AFP/Getty

Distraught relatives of the tourists broke down in tears as they arrived on the island to identify their loved ones.

The crash prompted Chinese authorities to insist that Taiwan improve safety for those visiting from the mainland, Sky News reports.

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