9 people dead after an elderly man drives his car into a crowd in Seoul

AKP STAFF

www.chosun.com

At approximately 9:30 PM on July 1, a tragic accident occurred at an intersection near Seoul City Hall.

According to police and fire authorities, the accident resulted in 9 fatalities, 1 serious injury, and 3 minor injuries. A police official stated, "It appears that a man in his 60s, driving a large black sedan, struck pedestrians waiting at the traffic light."

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the vehicle suddenly accelerated and collided with pedestrians in the crosswalk. Witness Shin, age 27, reported, "The black car hit not only the people crossing the crosswalk but also those on the sidewalk." Shin described the chaotic scene, with people collapsing and paramedics performing CPR on the injured.

Another witness, Kim (age 54), reported, "The accident happened right next to me. Riot police, who were on standby for a nearby rally, rushed over, and ambulances arrived with sirens blaring." Kim saw several people in cardiac arrest scattered across the crosswalk, with paramedics attending to them. Witnesses recalled hearing screams, "A black car drove in reverse and hit people everywhere!"

Lee (age 64), who was walking on the sidewalk, said, "I was eating at a park near Seoul Station when I heard a loud bang. I saw cars being pushed and scattered at the intersection." Lee described the scene, with cars lined up and guardrails smashed. Witnesses also reported seeing a 60-year-old driver in pain and a woman, presumed to be his wife, crying. Significant damage seemed to have occurred near a convenience store where a motorcycle and bicycle were found.

Citizen Choi (age 70) recounted, "I was drinking near City Hall when I heard a loud crash and came out to the road to see cars heavily collided." He added, "I saw 2-3 people thrown onto the road, lying there despite CPR efforts, covered with white sheets."

The scene was chaotic, with emergency responders and vehicles involved in the accident. Witnesses reported that the offending vehicle zigzagged across the crosswalk and sidewalk, leaving the usually busy guardrails in shambles. Police are investigating the cause of the accident, considering factors such as the driver’s condition and possible sudden acceleration.

President Yoon Suk Yeol was briefed on the incident and issued an urgent directive to the Minister of the Interior and Safety and the Commissioner of the Fire Department to prioritize rescue and treatment efforts for the victims, according to Presidential Spokesperson Kim Soo Kyung.

There are growing calls to raise awareness about elderly drivers. According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, traffic accidents caused by drivers aged 65 and older have been increasing annually, from 31,072 in 2020 to 39,614 last year, a 27.5% increase over three years.

In March last year, in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, a truck driven by a man in his 70s crashed into a polling station, killing 4 and injuring 16. The driver claimed he accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. In February, a 79-year-old driver caused a nine-vehicle pile-up near Yeonsinnae Station in Seoul, killing a man in his 70s and injuring more than 10 others. Although the driver was not intoxicated, he told police he had no memory of the accident.

These incidents highlight the need for effective measures for elderly drivers. Local governments are encouraging voluntary surrender of driver’s licenses to reduce accidents involving senior drivers. Seoul offers a 100,000 KRW (~72.27 USD) transportation card, while Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province provides local gift certificates worth 300,000 KRW (~216.81 USD).

However, according to the National Police Agency, the voluntary surrender rate of driver’s licenses is only about 2%. The National Assembly Research Service estimates that by next year, there will be 4.98 million drivers aged 65 and older.