166km Wrong-Way Driving Fatal Accident... Appeal Filed with Apology Letter, Bereaved Family Outraged

Appeal Filed Against 5-Year Prison Sentence
Mother Who Witnessed Accident Says "Unbelievable" in Anger

Last year, a perpetrator who caused a fatal accident while driving in the wrong direction at a speed of 166 km/h in a drunken state in the Yangjeong Tunnel in Geoje, Gyeongnam, has appealed the first trial verdict, causing the bereaved family to burst with anger.

According to the legal community on the 28th, A, a man in his 30s who was indicted on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Special Act on Dangerous Driving Causing Death), submitted an appeal to the Tongyeong branch of Changwon District Court on the 26th.

A is accused of driving in the wrong direction in a drunken state around 1:45 a.m. on December 15 last year in the Yangjeong Tunnel in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam, and colliding with an Accent and a Genesis vehicle driving normally, causing the death of B, a man in his 20s who was driving the Accent. A was sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial on the 20th.

However, B’s bereaved family opposed the first trial verdict, expressing their outrage, saying it was "unthinkable."

The scene of a drunk wrong-way driving accident at Geoje Yangjeong Tunnel on December 15 last year. Photo by Gyeongnam Police Agency

Under the Special Act, dangerous driving causing death is punishable by life imprisonment or imprisonment of three years or more, but the sentencing guidelines recommended by the Sentencing Commission only range from four to eight years in prison.

C, the mother who was driving behind her daughter B’s car at the time of the accident and witnessed the accident scene, expressed her grievance.

C said, "A not only drove under the influence but also drove in the wrong direction at 166 km/h, killing my daughter," and added, "It is outrageous that despite having a prior record of punishment for drunk driving, he was only sentenced to five years in prison."

Furthermore, C was even more furious upon learning that A immediately appealed after the first trial verdict, criticizing, "Seeing him appeal, claiming the sentence is too harsh despite committing such a shameless crime, felt like the sky was falling."

She also pointed out, "Submitting a letter of apology 11 times was supposed to mean he would accept the punishment willingly. (Since the sentence is light) it is actually us who should be appealing."

Having witnessed her daughter dying right before her eyes, C said, "Since the accident, I have closed my store and currently cannot live a normal life. I hope that in the appeal trial, my daughter’s grudge will be resolved."