Incheon Bukhang Tunnel Benz Driver: "I Raced at 229 km/h"

Incheon-Gimpo Expressway Bukhang Tunnel
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] It has been revealed that the Mercedes-Benz driver who caused a fatal accident while driving under the influence in the Bukhang Tunnel in Incheon was driving at a speed of 229 km/h at the time.

On the 8th, the first trial was held for driver A (44, male), who was arrested and indicted on charges of causing death by dangerous driving under the Specific Crimes Aggravated Punishment Act and drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act, at the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Jung Wooyoung).

The victim's mother, B (41, female), explained, "The perpetrator drove at 229 km/h, killing a person on the spot and showing no remorse, effectively killing the victim twice."

She added, "On January 20th, I submitted a petition requesting severe punishment for the perpetrator, and on the 3rd, I also submitted to the court a recording of the perpetrator's father lying. I am suffering from nightmares and cannot sleep."

Ms. B, the mother, submitted a petition stating, "My daughter, a counselor, had no job opportunities in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where she lived due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), so she commuted to Incheon and was involved in the accident. As an incompetent mother, I must live in pain with the guilt of having caused my child’s death until the day I die."

A, dressed in a blue prison uniform, kept his head down throughout the trial. A’s lawyer said, "There is not much to argue. We will try to reach a settlement somehow, so please give us about a month, and we will get back to you."

A is accused of driving a Mercedes-Benz at 216?229 km/h in the Bukhang Tunnel on the Incheon-Gimpo section of the Metropolitan Area 2nd Ring Expressway (Incheon-Gimpo Expressway) in Jung-gu, Incheon, around 9:10 p.m. on December 16 last year, and crashing into a Matiz passenger car ahead, causing the other driver, B, to die.

B died unable to escape from the burning passenger car immediately after the collision, and A’s blood alcohol concentration at the time was found to be 0.08%, the level for license cancellation. There were no skid marks, which are tire marks created during sudden braking, at the accident scene, and the police believe A did not apply the brakes until just before the collision.

In the police investigation, A stated, "I had a dinner gathering with acquaintances in Michuhol-gu, and I don’t remember well at the time of the accident. I think I was drowsy driving."

The police applied the "Yoon Chang-ho Act" to A, who caused a fatal accident while driving under the influence. The Yoon Chang-ho Act refers to the combined revised Special Act that strengthens punishment for fatal drunk driving accidents and the revised Road Traffic Act that tightens standards for license suspension and cancellation.