‘Sudden Acceleration Controversy’ Sicheong Station Reverse Running Accident, Prosecution Indicts Driver for Negligence and Arrest
The driver involved in the wrong-way driving accident at Seoul City Hall Station, which resulted in 9 deaths, was brought to trial in custody on the 20th.
The Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-heon) indicted Cha Mo (68) on the same day on charges of violating the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling (causing death and injury) while in custody.
Regarding Cha's claim that the "brake pedal" did not work despite being pressed, the prosecution explained, "It was confirmed that the braking system operates and the brake lights illuminate even when the vacuum booster is not functioning."
Although Cha claimed sudden unintended acceleration, the prosecution's investigation confirmed that Cha pressed the accelerator pedal, as the location information and speed stored in the accident vehicle matched the accident data recorder and the speed analysis from the black box footage. A prosecution official stated, "The pattern marks on the sole of the right shoe, which occur when strong external force is applied during an accident while pressing a pedal, were found to match those made while pressing the accelerator pedal, not the brake pedal."
The prosecution added, "Despite this being a serious traffic accident with multiple casualties, the limitations of punishment under the statutory penalty (imprisonment up to 5 years, up to 7 years and 6 months if aggravated by concurrent offenses) have been confirmed," and emphasized, "Legislative improvements such as establishing aggravated punishment provisions are necessary to enable strict penalties that correspond to the scale of damage, the nature of the crime, and public sentiment in cases involving multiple casualties."
The prosecution previously formed a dedicated investigation team and began collecting evidence based on legal reviews of cases claiming sudden unintended acceleration. They also directly attended the pre-trial detention hearing, submitted opinions, and ensured Cha was sent to custody. After the transfer, scientific investigation methods such as forensic automobile analysis by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and accident vehicle experiments by the National Forensic Service were actively utilized to establish that the cause of this accident was not sudden unintended acceleration due to a vehicle defect but the defendant's misoperation of the accelerator pedal.
Cha is accused of driving out of the underground parking lot of the Westin Chosun Hotel near City Hall Station at around 9:26 p.m. on the 1st of last month, driving in the wrong direction, and crashing onto the sidewalk, resulting in 9 deaths and 5 injuries.
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