Fatal Accident on Highway During Commute...Dies at Scene After Collision with Truck
Four Korean women in their 20s on a working holiday in Australia died in a traffic accident. Photo is not related to the article.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Four Korean women in their 20s staying in Australia on working holiday visas died in a traffic accident on a rainy road.
According to Australian public broadcaster ABC and 7 News on the 13th (local time), at around 5:30 p.m. that day, a semi-trailer truck and an SUV collided at the entrance to the New England Highway in southern Queensland, killing four Korean women in their mid-20s who were in the SUV on the spot.
The truck traveling on the highway collided with the driver's side of the SUV entering the road and stopped only after moving another 150 meters. It was raining at the scene at the time of the accident.
Three paramedics and one helicopter rushed to the scene, but the victims were already deceased.
Meanwhile, the truck driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Local police reported that the truck driver suffered significant psychological shock from the accident. Drug and alcohol tests on the driver came back negative.
Local police are placing more weight on the possibility of fault on the part of the Korean driver, as the SUV entering the road did not yield to the truck.
Local police stated that the deceased Koreans were returning home after finishing farm work and that "they had only been in Australia for a few weeks."
Australia, which had closed its borders due to COVID-19 restrictions, allowed entry to working holiday visa holders starting February 20, about two months ago.
The police are coordinating with the Korean consulate to find a way to contact the bereaved families.
Local police plan to continue the investigation through witnesses and dashcam footage.
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