"540,000 Sign Petition for Severe Punishment of Taxi Driver Blocking Ambulance Saying 'Will Take Responsibility if Patient Dies'"

"Blocking Emergency Vehicles Must Never Happen"

A black box video attached by the petitioner who posted on the Blue House National Petition on the 3rd. The petitioner claimed that the taxi driver should handle the accident and leave, and that they argued for 10 minutes, getting out of the car and taking photos. Photo by YouTube capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] A Blue House petition demanding strict punishment for a taxi driver who blocked an ambulance transporting an emergency patient surpassed 500,000 signatures on the 6th.

The petitioner, who is the son, claimed that the taxi driver obstructed the passage of the emergency vehicle, and as a result, his mother in her 80s, who was being transported, eventually passed away. In particular, the taxi driver did not believe the severity of the patient's condition, arguing that the ambulance was private, not a 119 vehicle, and even caused a disturbance by opening the back door of the ambulance and taking photos, saying he would take responsibility if the patient died. This has sparked widespread condemnation.

According to the petition posted by the son on the 3rd, around 3:15 PM on the 8th of last month near Godeok Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, a private ambulance changed lanes and lightly collided with a nearby taxi.

The son explained, "The ambulance driver got out and told the taxi driver, 'There is an emergency patient inside the vehicle, so I will take them to the hospital and then resolve the incident,' but the taxi driver insisted that the incident should be handled first before going to the hospital," adding, "The taxi driver said, 'I will call a separate 119 vehicle to take the patient to the hospital.'"

A petition posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 3rd received over 540,000 endorsements by the 6th, three days later. / Photo by National Petition Board screenshot

According to the petition, the taxi driver spoke disrespectfully to the ambulance driver, saying things like, "If that patient dies, I will take responsibility," and "Actually, there is no emergency patient; you are just turning on the siren to go faster on purpose," and even opened the back door of the ambulance to take photos of the patient.

The taxi driver and the ambulance driver argued for about 10 minutes, during which another 119 ambulance arrived and transported the petitioner's mother to the hospital. However, the petitioner’s mother, who arrived late at the emergency room, passed away five hours later.

The son said, "We are waiting for the police to punish the taxi driver, but since the charge is only obstruction of business, it seems he will receive a light punishment and be released," adding, "It really breaks my heart."

He continued, "Blocking emergency vehicles must never happen," and urged, "Please punish the taxi driver who stopped the emergency vehicle in a situation where every minute and second is critical." As of 7 AM on the same day, the petition had received over 540,000 signatures.