'Siheung Station Traffic Accident' 60s Driver to Undergo Second Police Investigation on the 10th

Consistent Claims of Sudden Acceleration in Police Interview Statement

The police will conduct a second investigation on the 60-year-old driver involved in the 'Sicheong Station traffic accident' on the 10th, focusing on the cause of the accident.

Ryu Jae-hyeok, Chief of Namdaemun Police Station, is giving an investigation briefing on the pedestrian crash caused by a wrong-way vehicle near City Hall Station at Namdaemun Police Station in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 9th.
[Photo by Kang Jin-hyung]

The Seoul Namdaemun Police Station announced that they plan to carry out a second investigation on Cha (68), who caused the Sicheong Station traffic accident, on the 10th. Although the exact time has not been set, the police intend to focus the interview on whether Cha was aware of driving in the wrong direction and whether he confused the accelerator and brake pedals, among other causes of the accident.

Cha is currently hospitalized in a hospital in Seoul with some fractured ribs piercing his lungs and has been diagnosed with an 8-week recovery period. While he is able to give statements, it is known that he complains of pain during long interviews.

Earlier, on the 4th, the police visited the hospital where Cha was admitted and conducted a first verbal interview. At that time, Cha consistently claimed that the sudden acceleration was due to a vehicle defect.

To verify whether the vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration, the police have secured CCTV footage from 12 nearby locations and black box footage from four vehicles and have handed them over to the National Forensic Service (NFS). The vehicle inspection is currently underway at the NFS. It is also known that the police have completed a witness investigation of Cha’s wife, who was a passenger.

Ryu Jaehyuk, chief of the Seoul Namdaemun Police Station, said, "We are conducting a joint investigation with professional forensic agencies such as the NFS, keeping all possibilities open, including vehicle defects," and added, "We hope for the speedy recovery of those affected by this accident."