"Mother Passed Away, but... Taxi Driver Only Charged with Obstruction of Business"
An ambulance transporting a patient collided with a taxi, leading to an altercation between the drivers. As a result, the patient arrived late at the hospital and ultimately passed away. The patient's child posted a petition on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 3rd, requesting punishment for the taxi driver. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture.
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A patient who arrived late at the hospital after a stretcher ambulance collided with a taxi and a dispute broke out between the drivers eventually died. The patient's child urged on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 3rd, "Please punish the taxi driver who blocked the ambulance in a situation where every minute and second is crucial."
According to the petitioner, on the 8th of last month, a private ambulance carrying a patient collided with a taxi while changing lanes.
The patient had been suffering from cancer for three years and was on the way to the emergency room in poor condition, unable to breathe properly.
The ambulance driver repeatedly pleaded, "There is an emergency patient, so I will take them to the hospital first and then handle the situation," but the taxi driver refused.
The taxi driver said rudely, "Accident handling comes first, where do you think you're going? If the patient is mine, I will call 119 and send them to the hospital."
The petitioner's wife, who was also in the ambulance, stepped in and said, "Can't we just check the black box?" The taxi driver snapped back, "Accident handling comes first, and we can't leave before it's resolved."
The taxi driver also verbally abused the ambulance driver, saying, "There is no emergency patient in the vehicle, so aren't you deliberately turning on the siren and trying to go fast?" and "If that patient dies, I will take responsibility."
The situation when the taxi driver opened the ambulance door and verbally abused the driver was also captured in the ambulance black box video uploaded by the petitioner.
The cause was posted on YouTube on the 1st under the title "Taxi driver who stopped an ambulance with an emergency patient." Photo by the petitioner, screenshot from the uploaded YouTube video.
While they argued for 10 minutes, another ambulance arrived and transferred the patient to the emergency room, but the patient ultimately died.
The petitioner said, "My mother was transferred to another ambulance, but due to the hot weather, she went into shock and was unable to regain consciousness. After many difficulties, we arrived at the emergency room, but my mother never opened her eyes and passed away in just five hours."
The petitioner continued, "We are waiting for police punishment, but since the charge is only obstruction of business, thinking that the punishment will be light and the culprit will be released makes my heart truly break."
It is common to receive a fine of up to 200,000 won for blocking emergency vehicles such as ambulances. If the ambulance driver requests, charges of obstruction of business can be applied.
The petitioner concluded, "Blocking emergency vehicles must never happen. We must not lose precious golden time."
As of 5 p.m. on the 3rd, the petition had gained more than 34,000 supporters.
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