Woman Left on Highway After Marital Fight Found Dead Hit by Truck

Fought with Husband in Taxi, Got Off Alone at Shelter and Met Tragedy

After a couple's quarrel, a woman who got off alone at a highway rest area was found dead after being hit by a truck. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] A woman who got off at a highway rest area after a marital quarrel was found dead the next day on a nearby shoulder. It is presumed that the woman, walking alone on the shoulder, was hit by a hit-and-run traffic accident.

According to a report by YTN on the 12th, around 11 p.m. on the 8th of last month, a couple riding a taxi on the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway had a quarrel and stopped at a drowsy rest area in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do.

According to the taxi driver at the time, the husband returned alone to the taxi shortly after and asked the driver to leave first. The driver then took only the husband to his destination and called the highway service office to inform them that the woman remained at the rest area.

Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) sent a patrol vehicle to search near the drowsy rest area but failed to find the woman. The corporation did not report this to the police and ended the search on its own.

The woman was found dead around 11 a.m. on the 9th, just 700 meters from where she got off, on the shoulder. It was determined that she was hit by a 5-ton cargo truck that was changing lanes while she was walking alone.

Some have pointed out that if the corporation had shared the report that the woman was left alone on the highway with the police, the tragedy might have been avoided. In response, the corporation stated that they did not consider it a missing person case and explained that it was difficult to find the fallen woman due to the rainy and dark night.

A corporation official said in an interview with the media, "We cannot judge whether it was a missing person or disappearance. We patrolled toward the Seoul direction as reported. However, the woman was found in the Changwon direction."

However, criticism is rising as the public institution responsible for highway safety received a report that someone might be in a dangerous situation but did not take responsible measures.