Taipei: A public bus that crashed into a convenience store in Taipei's Xinyi District on Tuesday after the driver forgot to pull the handbrake caused no injuries, but the incident resulted in a heavy fine, the city's Department of Transportation said.According to Focus Taiwan, Metropolitan Transport Corp., which operates the Route 277 city bus, was fined NT$90,000 (US$2,817). The accident occurred around noon on Songde Road when the bus driver, a 35-year-old man surnamed Tsai, parked at the Songde terminal to take a break but forgot to engage the handbrake. Upon returning, Tsai found the vehicle had skidded and crashed into a convenience store opposite the terminal.There were no passengers in the vehicle at the time, and nobody was injured. However, the rear of the bus was severely damaged after being lodged in the store. The department confirmed the store's ceiling and the sidewalk in front were also severely damaged, with nearby stores and a parked motorcycle experiencing slight damage.Despite the lim ited impact, the transportation department considered the situation concerning and fined the bus company NT$90,000, in accordance with Article 77 of the Highway Act, which penalizes such violations with fines between NT$9,000 and NT$90,000.The bus company will also be responsible for compensating for the damage, submitting a review, and enhancing driver education and training. Metropolitan Transport general manager Lee Chien-wen stated that according to standard operating procedures, the handbrake must be applied when stopping and triangular wheel chocks must be used to ensure the vehicle remains stationary. An investigation into the cause of the incident will be conducted, and the store owner will receive full compensation for any losses incurred.