70s Woman in Benz Crashes into Daegu Seomun Market, Causing Havoc... 2 Injured

Police Investigating the Circumstances of the Accident

At Daegu Seomun Market, an accident occurred where a Mercedes-Benz passenger car driven by a driver in her 70s crashed into a street vendor stall.

According to Yonhap News on the 28th, at around 4:23 PM that day, a Mercedes-Benz passenger car driven by a woman in her 70s, identified as Ms. A, crashed into a street vendor stall in front of the entrance to the Seomun Market Seomun Parking Lot in Jung-gu, Daegu.

A vehicle that crashed into a street vendor stall at Daegu Seomun Market on the afternoon of the 28th. [Image provided by Daegu Fire Department]

As a result of the accident, a 75-year-old street vendor, Mr. B, suffered severe injuries to both legs and was transported to a nearby hospital, and an 80-year-old Mr. C, who was seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle, sustained minor facial injuries.

The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident, believing that the vehicle crashed into the street vendor stall while exiting the parking lot.

Meanwhile, according to the 2021 traffic accident status report submitted by the Road Traffic Authority to the National Assembly Legislative Research Office in 2021, the number of accidents caused by elderly drivers aged 65 and over was 79.3 cases per 10,000 licensed drivers, which is higher than the overall average of 60.2 cases per 10,000 drivers.

In the case of traffic accidents involving elderly drivers, the fatality rate is about twice the overall average. Experts believe that as people age, their reaction speed to dangerous situations slows down, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

The government and local authorities are implementing a "Voluntary License Surrender System," which provides transportation subsidies to elderly drivers who voluntarily return their driver's licenses.