Porsche Owner's Alcohol Test Not Conducted in Time
A police officer who failed to conduct a timely alcohol test on the driver of a Porsche involved in a fatal traffic accident in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, received a minor disciplinary action. In response, the victim's family has filed a national petition demanding a reconsideration of the case.
On the 9th, a petition written by A, who identified themselves as a bereaved family member of the accident victim, was posted on the National Assembly's National Consent Petition board. A stated, "I question whether the police officer’s light disciplinary action is reasonable," and added, "If the police had not been negligent in their initial response, the perpetrator’s higher blood alcohol level would have been recognized, and the prosecution could have sought a harsher punishment."
They further stated, "We cannot accept the police’s lenient punishment results and urge a reconsideration of the light disciplinary action against the involved police officer." This petition was posted on the 6th and, as of 5 p.m. on the 9th, has received support from over 6,200 people. According to National Assembly rules, if a petition receives more than 50,000 signatures within 30 days of posting, it is referred to the relevant standing committee for review.
Petition post uploaded on the National Assembly Public Consent Petition Board [Image source=National Assembly Public Consent Petition website]
The accident occurred at around 12:45 a.m. on June 27 at the Honam Jeilmun Plaza intersection in Yeoui-dong, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do. At the time, B (50), the driver of the Porsche traveling at 159 km/h, collided with a Spark vehicle driven by B (19), who was returning home after driving practice. The impact caused B to die at the scene, while a peer passenger in the front seat was seriously injured and reportedly remains unconscious.
Investigations revealed that B was driving straight at 159 km/h, more than three times the speed limit of 50 km/h, when he struck the Spark that was making a left turn. Police who arrived at the scene sent B alone to the hospital after he said, "I will undergo a blood test." During this process, the alcohol test was not conducted promptly.
Ultimately, B’s alcohol test was conducted only about 2 hours and 20 minutes after the accident. During this time, B consumed two more cans of beer in what is known as "sul taki" (drinking more alcohol after a drunk driving accident to confuse the investigation by preventing accurate measurement of blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident).
In the police investigation, B reportedly stated that he drank beer after the accident because "he did not know the other driver had died" and "he was upset because his cherished vehicle was damaged." The Jeollabuk-do Police Agency imposed a minor disciplinary action of a one-month pay reduction on the former Yeoui Police Substation team leader for violating the duty of sincerity, and issued administrative warnings to three team members.
B is currently on trial for violations including the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents (causing death and injury) and the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), but only the minimum blood alcohol concentration of 0.036% has been applied. Last month, the prosecution requested the maximum legal sentence of 7 years and 6 months imprisonment during the sentencing hearing.
At that time, the prosecution explained, "Due to the police’s inadequate initial investigation, the prosecution had no choice but to accept the defendant’s blood alcohol level as 0.036%," and added, "There is currently no law to punish the act of 'sul taki,' and even if the maximum sentence is requested, the punishment cannot be considered commensurate." The sentencing hearing for A is scheduled for the 16th of next month.
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