TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A police officer died in New Taipei on Saturday morning (July 13) after being struck by a car while on patrol.

The officer surnamed Huang (黃) was hit by a car in the early hours of Saturday morning and was sent to hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. Huang was a member of the Sanchong Branch of the New Taipei City Police Department, where he had worked for over seven years, per CNA.

UDN reported that the driver of the car who struck Huang had been using recreational drugs before the incident.

The New Taipei Police Department praised Huang’s career as a police officer, and said he was a conscientious and punctual member of the team. He had been awarded over 400 times for work carried out on duty, police said.