The driver of a vehicle that ran over several pedestrians, resulting in the deaths of nine people in central Seoul, has been detained for investigation. Police authorities are considering requesting an arrest warrant against him.
Police are also planning to request a forensic analysis of the sedan. The decision was made after the 68-year-old man said the vehicle suddenly accelerated and went out of control while driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street near Seoul City Hall. This resulted in it crashing into a metal railing and hitting people on the sidewalk.
Details and actions after the incident with the driver involved
Six of the victims died on the spot, while the other three were taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest and later declared dead. The dead included four employees of a nearby bank and two Seoul municipal government officials.
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Four other people were also injured, including the driver, who suffered fractured ribs.
According to authorities, the man was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Chung Yong-woo, a senior police officer at Namdaemun Police Station, said the driver has been referred for investigation on charges of negligent driving resulting in injury and death. He added that police will consider requesting an arrest warrant for him.
Chung explained that apart from the driver’s claims, there was no evidence of sudden, unintentional acceleration. The officer added that the police plan to request an investigation of the vehicle from the National Forensic Service (NFS), to verify his claim. The officer stressed that the investigation will be carried out as soon as possible, to “avoid any destruction of evidence.”
The suspect was identified as a bus driver with a 40-year career as a driver.
Police also plan to question the driver’s wife, who was in the sedan at the time of the crash.
Source: https://reporteasia.com/sociedad/2024/07/04/tragedia-en-seul-la-investigacion-y-acciones-tras-el-fatal-atropello-masivo/
