Driver Who Killed Mother Cheering While Taking 4-Year-Old Daughter to School Arrested on "Flight Risk" Charges

Court Issues Arrest Warrant Citing "Risk of Flight"

Driver A, who struck and killed a mother in her 30s holding the hand of her 4-year-old daughter while crossing a crosswalk to attend kindergarten, is entering the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu, Incheon City on the afternoon of the 17th to undergo a pre-arrest detention hearing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] A man in his 50s who hit and killed a mother with his car while she was holding her 4-year-old daughter's hand on the way to kindergarten has been arrested by the police.

On the 17th, the Incheon Western Police Station arrested A (54) on charges of causing death under the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling and injury in a children's protection zone under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

On the same day, Jang Gisuk, the judge in charge of warrants at the Incheon District Court, who conducted the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) for A, issued an arrest warrant, stating "there is a risk of flight."

Earlier, in front of the Incheon District Court where the warrant review was held, A did not respond to reporters' questions such as "Did you really not see the child and the mother?", "Why did you drive if you couldn't see?", and "Do you admit fault?"

A is accused of hitting B (32, female), who was crossing a crosswalk in a children's protection zone (school zone) while making a left turn on a road near Geomdan Welfare Center in Majun-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, at around 9:20 a.m. on the 11th, causing her death.

B was trapped under A's vehicle and dragged 4 to 5 meters, sustaining injuries all over her body. She was transported to a nearby hospital by the 119 emergency medical team and received treatment but ultimately died after about an hour.

At the time, B's 4-year-old daughter C, who was crossing the crosswalk holding hands with B, fell to the ground and suffered a leg fracture, receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

The police found no skid marks, which are tire marks created when a vehicle brakes suddenly, at the accident scene, and believe that A did not apply the brakes immediately before or after the accident.

During the police investigation, it was revealed that A had surgery on his left eye three days before the accident, on the 8th, and testified that the A-pillar of the vehicle (the pillar next to the front windshield) obstructed his view, preventing him from properly seeing B and her daughter.