‘Yongsan TeslaX Fire Death’... Substitute Driver Denies Charges in First Trial

Victim Yoon Known as Friend of President-Elect Yoon Seok-yeol

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] In relation to the accident in which a Tesla vehicle caught fire and a lawyer from a major law firm, who was a friend of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, died, the substitute driver denied the charges at the first trial, citing ‘sudden unintended acceleration’ as the reason.

The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 5 (Presiding Judge Park Won-gyu) held the first trial at 11:30 a.m. on the 14th for substitute driver Choi (60), who is charged with violating the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling (causing death).

At the trial, Choi’s defense attorney stated, “We acknowledge that the victim died due to the traffic accident,” but argued, “Although the brake was pressed before the accident, it did not function properly, so it was not intentional, and there was no professional negligence due to sudden unintended acceleration.”

According to the prosecution, on December 9, 2020, at around 9:43 p.m., Choi was driving a Tesla Model X and entered the underground parking lot of an apartment in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. He pressed the accelerator pedal and accidentally crashed into the parking lot wall, causing the passenger Yoon to die. It was found that Yoon died after the vehicle caught fire due to the lithium battery igniting following the collision. Yoon was known to be a friend of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol.

Meanwhile, the victim Yoon’s attorney also attended the trial and stated, “We hope the cause of the accident will be clarified.”

The next trial is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. on the 26th of next month.