Repeated Drunk Driving Accident... Mercedes Driver Hits Chasing BMW and Flees Scene

Court: "10 Months Imprisonment with 2 Years Probation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A man in his 30s driving a Mercedes-Benz who repeatedly committed drunk driving, crashed into vehicles, injured a taxi driver, and fled the scene was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to the court on the 10th, Shin Hyukjae, Chief Judge of Criminal Division 4 at the Seoul Central District Court, recently sentenced A (37, male), a self-employed person indicted on charges of dangerous driving causing injury and hit-and-run injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, as well as violations of the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving and failure to take measures after an accident), to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. He was also ordered to perform 80 hours of community service and attend 40 hours of a law-abiding driving lecture.

Earlier, A was brought to trial for allegedly driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.182% around midnight on May 20 last year on Dongho Bridge in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, crashing into vehicles and fleeing the scene.

At the time, A was driving a Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicle valued at around 200 million won, crossed lanes, crashed into a taxi driven by B (67, male), and then hit the BMW 320d of C, who witnessed the incident and chased after him, before fleeing, according to the investigation.

As a result of A’s crime, B suffered injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment, and the taxi repair costs amounted to about 3.6 million won. C’s BMW was damaged beyond repair cost estimation.

Judge Shin reprimanded, "The defendant has a prior record of punishment for drunk driving and committed drunk driving again in this case. He caused a traffic accident and fled, resulting in human and material damage, so his culpability is not light."

However, he added, "Considering that the defendant admitted all charges, reached amicable settlements with all victims who do not wish for his punishment, and has no prior criminal record exceeding fines, these sentencing factors were taken into account."

Since neither A nor the prosecutor appealed, this ruling was finalized as is.