Driver Given Probation for Consecutive Drunk Driving Accidents in the Heart of Gangnam

Blood Alcohol Concentration at 0.149% 'License Cancellation' Level

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] A driver who caused consecutive drunk driving accidents in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, was sentenced to a prison term with a suspended sentence.

According to the legal community on the 13th, the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 5 (Judge Ha Seyong) sentenced driver A, who was tried on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (hit-and-run injury), violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury), violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take measures after an accident), and violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), to 1 year and 2 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence on the 28th of last month.

A was indicted for damaging the vehicles of victims B (47) and C (65) and causing injuries while driving under the influence from an underground parking lot located in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to Bangbang Intersection in Gangnam-gu at around 9:10 p.m. on August 31 of last year.

At that time, A’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.149%, which is at the license cancellation level.

A, while intoxicated, neglected the duty of paying attention to the front and attempted a left turn, causing damage to the right front bumper of the victim’s passenger car and inflicting injuries on B that required about three weeks of treatment. Despite causing damage that required 1.46 million KRW in bumper repair costs, A fled the scene without aiding the victim.

Afterward, despite the left turn signal, A went straight and collided with the right side of victim C’s bus, causing injuries that required about two weeks of treatment.

The court pointed out, "The defendant drove in such an intoxicated state that he could not remember the circumstances of the initial accident," and "The crime is serious as he fled after a personal injury accident and caused another personal injury accident." It also stated that the defendant did not receive forgiveness from victim A.

However, the court noted, "The defendant has no prior criminal record and has social ties," and "Some of the damages to the victims were compensated through insurance, and forgiveness was received from victim C."