Police "Scooter Operation Mistake Presumed"
On the 24th, SBS '8 News' reported that around 2 p.m. at Cheongra Eondeok Station on Daegu Subway Line 2, an elderly man in his 80s riding an electric scooter pushed and crashed into the elevator door, resulting in his death. Photo by SBS '8 News'.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An elderly man in his 80s riding an electric scooter was crushed to death after pushing through the closed elevator door at a subway station and falling 5 meters down.
On the 24th, SBS '8 News' reported that around 2 p.m. at Cheongra Eondeok Station on Daegu Subway Line 2, an electric scooter ridden by an 80-year-old Mr. A appeared to stop once in front of the elevator before suddenly rushing forward.
According to SBS, the accident is presumed to have been caused by a mistake in operating the electric scooter, but the subway station's safety devices were also insufficient.
Mr. A seemed to be sucked into the elevator, and the impact was strong enough to make the elevator door flutter.
The accident occurred in front of elevator No. 3 on the third basement floor, causing Mr. A and the electric scooter to fall 5 meters down to the fourth basement floor.
The police are investigating the exact cause, considering it an accident due to an operational error of the electric scooter.
However, there are also criticisms that despite the operational error, the safety devices to prevent the accident were insufficient.
The concrete fall-prevention curb installed on the elevator door rail was unable to withstand the weight and speed of the electric scooter and broke off.
The current standard has been reinforced to withstand the impact of two adult men weighing 60 kg each colliding at 10 km/h, but it appears to have been inadequate to endure the collision of an electric scooter weighing over 100 kg.
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