60s Arrested for Drunk Hit-and-Run, Striking Victim Again Causing Death

Black box footage of a fatal accident. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] A man in his 60s who caused a hit-and-run accident while driving under the influence on a road in Jangheung, Jeonnam, and then hit the victim again, resulting in death, has been arrested.

The Jangheung Police Station in Jeonnam announced on the 2nd that A (68) was arrested on charges of hit-and-run causing death under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

A is accused of crossing the center line with a 1-ton truck he was driving near Jicheon Tunnel in Jangheung-gun, Jeonnam, at around 7:46 p.m. on the 18th of last month, hitting B (64)'s 17-ton truck, then hitting B again, causing his death, and fleeing the scene.

A stated that after the first collision, he continued driving but realized late that he was not heading home and turned the vehicle around, and that he was intoxicated at the time and thought he had hit a guardrail, not a person.

The victim was struck and killed while walking toward the driver's seat to check the accident.

The incident occurred about seven minutes after the first collision.

While the police were handling the accident scene, A's wife reportedly came to the scene and attempted to switch drivers, claiming that she was the one who caused the accident.

After reviewing nearby security CCTV footage, the police confirmed that the driver was male and urgently arrested A. It was also confirmed that A's blood alcohol concentration at the time was at the level warranting license cancellation.

The police applied for an arrest warrant for A, which was issued by the court the day before.

The police are conducting supplementary investigations into A's attempted driver switch and other charges.