SUV Hits Elementary Students Riding Bicycles in School Zone in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk
The so-called 'Gyeongju School Zone Accident' video. The footage shows an SUV vehicle hitting a child riding a bicycle in a school zone near an elementary school in Gyeongbuk Gyeongju. Photo by SNS capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] A video showing an SUV hitting a child riding a bicycle in a school zone near an elementary school in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, known as the "Gyeongju School Zone Accident," has sparked controversy as it spreads on social media.
A netizen identified as A, who introduced herself as the victim's older sister, posted the video of the accident on her Instagram on the 25th, stating, "My younger sibling, who is in the lower grades of elementary school, had a scuffle with another child, and that child's mother chased my sibling, who was riding a bicycle, crossing the center line and deliberately hit him."
A said, "It was intentional, and the accident occurred in a school zone. My sibling is currently hospitalized," adding, "We are still gathering details, but deliberately chasing a child riding a bicycle with a car and hitting them is unimaginable for any human being."
She continued, "Although I described it as a scuffle, it was a trivial matter between children, yet the driver chased the child, even driving against traffic, and intentionally hit the child. I heard the distance was about 200 meters," and claimed, "According to eyewitnesses, the brake lights were not even on."
She added, "In the video, the driver not only fails to brake suddenly but also keeps accelerating until the bicycle wheel and my sibling's leg are run over. As shown in the video, the car jolts," and said, "Even after getting out of the car, the driver did not say a single word asking if my sibling was okay. In fact, it was another witness who reported the incident."
A said, "My second-grade sibling said, 'Noona, I now have trauma and can't ride a bicycle anymore. I also have trauma about cars and can't ride them,'" expressing deep sorrow, and added, "If this video did not exist, would the driver in the video have called it a simple, minor accident?"
Meanwhile, according to Gyeongju Police Station on the 26th, at around 1:40 p.m. on the 25th, a white SUV hit a 9-year-old elementary school student B, who was riding a bicycle on a road near Dongcheon Elementary School.
B is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital for a leg injury.
According to the police, on the day of the accident, B had a dispute with D, the daughter of driver C, at a playground, and C chased after B, claiming, "My child was hit and the other child did not apologize."
The police are investigating the detailed circumstances of the accident and whether it was intentional, as well as whether the offending vehicle complied with the "Min-sik Act."
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