A man in his 30s causes drunk driving accident by crossing center line... Flees on foot after tire comes off

Caught hiding under a factory car 2km away
Blood alcohol concentration at license cancellation level

A man in his 30s who caused an accident by crossing the center line after drinking alcohol during Seollal and then hiding in a nearby large automobile factory was caught by the police.

On the 11th, the Ulsan Dongbu Police Station announced that they had arrested a man in his 30s, Mr. A, on charges of drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act and hit-and-run under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. On the night before Seollal, around 11:20 PM, Mr. A crossed the center line of the one-lane road in the Yeomposan Tunnel in Dong-gu, which is a two-lane road, to overtake the car in front, and collided with an oncoming vehicle. He then hit the car he was trying to overtake and fled without taking any action.

Three people, including the driver of the oncoming vehicle, Mr. B, were injured in the accident.

Mr. A hid by climbing over the wall of a large factory and was spotted by the factory’s security personnel. The security team leader on duty in the area at the same time reported the incident to the police, leading to Mr. A’s arrest. At the time of arrest, Mr. A’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.130%, which is at the level for license cancellation. It was reported that there were a total of four people in Mr. A’s car, including himself. One of the group was found in front of the factory’s security office where Mr. A was hiding.

It was investigated that Mr. A fled about 2 km, got out of the car after a tire came off, and escaped on foot before climbing over the factory wall. The police are tracking the whereabouts of the other two people who were in the vehicle. A police official stated, "Thanks to the efficient division of duties between the local police and traffic police, we were able to quickly apprehend the suspect," and added, "We are investigating the specific circumstances of the accident with Mr. A."

Meanwhile, companions who knowingly rode in the vehicle with a drunk driver can be punished for aiding and abetting drunk driving. Simple aiding and abetting can result in imprisonment for up to 1 year and 6 months or a fine of up to 5 million won. If the companion actively encouraged or urged the driver to drink and drive, they can face up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.