Bolt and Others Directly Hit Vehicle Windshield Due to Accident Impact
2 Dead Including Bus Driver and 13 Injured in Accident
A tire from a cargo trailer traveling on the highway came off and struck a tour bus, resulting in 15 casualties. A black box video capturing the moment of the accident was also released.
The Tire That Flew Off... Roaming the Highway Like a Lawless Zone Before the Accident
At 4:09 PM on the 25th, a tire that came off a cargo trailer bounced on the Seoul-bound side of the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seungdu-ri, Gondo-eup, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source: Provided by citizen A · Yonhap News]
On the 25th, Yonhap News released a black box video from a citizen named A. At around 4:09 PM that day, on the Seoul-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seungdu-ri, Gongdo-eup, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, about 10 meters ahead of A’s vehicle in the third lane, a 25-ton cargo trailer was traveling. Suddenly, one tire from the middle section of the cargo trailer came off and immediately rolled to the left, passing through the second and first lanes before hitting the central divider. The impact caused the tire to bounce into the air.
The tire continued to bounce and reached the second lane where A’s vehicle was driving, then passed the first lane again and crossed over the central divider. As soon as it crossed the central divider, the tire smashed through the front windshield of a tour bus traveling in the first lane. The tire struck the tour bus driver and a passenger seated diagonally behind the driver, then came to a stop in the middle aisle.
At around 4:09 PM on the 25th, an object resembling a bolt or a stone from the road, caused by a tire that came off a cargo trailer, directly hit Mr. A's vehicle. [Image source: Provided by citizen Mr. A · Yonhap News]
It was also reported that A was nearly in danger at the time of the accident. Just before the tire crossed the central divider, an object believed to be a bolt or a stone on the road bounced off the tire and hit the front part of A’s vehicle. Fortunately, the windshield of A’s vehicle did not crack or break, but the impact was strong enough to produce a 'thud' sound. Because of this, A chased after the cargo trailer with the missing tire, honking to stop it. Later, police arrived at the scene and confirmed that the tire that struck the tour bus had come off that trailer.
2 Dead and 13 Injured in the Accident... "Investigating the Overall Incident"
On the 25th, a tire of a cargo trailer running on the highway came off and struck a tour bus, resulting in the deaths of two people, including the bus driver. Gyeonggi-do Fire Department 119 paramedics are transporting the injured at the scene. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As a result of the accident, the 60-year-old male tour bus driver who was directly hit by the tire and a 60-year-old male passenger seated behind the driver died, while 13 other passengers sustained serious and minor injuries (2 seriously injured). The bus was en route from Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do to Gwangju Metropolitan City, and the passengers were reportedly members of a photography-related group. Police have booked the cargo trailer driver (69) on charges of violating the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling and are investigating. The cargo trailer driver reportedly told police that he did not know why the tire suddenly came off.
There are also questions about how the tour bus was able to stop without further accidents despite the driver being incapacitated by the sudden accident. It is estimated that the tour bus slowed down and stopped after hitting the central divider immediately after the accident. Police stated, "An automatic control device installed on the bus may have been activated, and it is also possible that the driver braked to reduce speed upon seeing the tire." They added, "We are investigating the entire incident from the moment the accident occurred until the bus came to a stop."
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