Two individuals lost their lives and a minimum of 18 others sustained injuries following a truck collision with pedestrians at an open-air market. The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, November 13, in Bucheon city, part of the Seoul metropolitan area in South Korea, as confirmed by fire and police authorities.
Law enforcement officials are interrogating a truck driver in his 60s, whose identity has not been disclosed, and who was found not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to Son Byeong-sam, a police official from Bucheon. Witnesses mentioned that the truck seemed to be traveling at a high speed.
A snapshot taken after the crash displays the truck positioned in front of market stalls with two men examining the scene. Debris is strewn around, and the truck’s windshield is shattered.
A fire department representative stated that the truck appeared to reverse for a distance of 28 meters before accelerating down a pathway. Subsequently, it plowed through the market for 150 meters before coming to a halt.
Reports from the Yonhap News Agency indicated that two individuals succumbed to cardiac arrest, while 18 others suffered injuries as a result of the incident.
Emergency responders managed to extract the driver from the vehicle after he got trapped inside. The mishap took place at approximately 10:55 am local time on Thursday.
The driver alleged that the truck’s brakes had malfunctioned and subsequent alcohol testing revealed no signs of intoxication, as stated by the police.
An eyewitness recounted the terrifying moment when the truck rammed through the market, expressing, “There was a tremendous crashing noise. The vehicle was hurtling forward, pulling along people. It all unfolded in an instant and was truly terrifying.”
Bucheon is situated about 16 miles west of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. According to the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, roughly 3.4 million international tourists visited the country between January and March last year.
A merchant named Jin, aged 43, recounted to The Chosun Daily, “I was having a meal inside the shop when I heard screams outside, followed by a loud bang as a car swept by and came to a crashing stop.”
Another market worker described the noise of the truck crash as so thunderous that it “felt like a building collapse.”
The unidentified truck driver in his 60s, who was found not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is being questioned by the police, as stated by Son Byeong-sam, a police official in Bucheon, near Seoul.
Park Geum-cheon, an official at Bucheon’s fire station, mentioned that witnesses informed investigators about the truck initially reversing approximately 28 meters (92 feet) before proceeding forward for 150 meters (492 feet), striking pedestrians along the way.
The driver asserted that there was a malfunction with his vehicle, and officials are reviewing security camera footage, as per Park Geum-cheon.
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