'Maserati Driver Involved in Drunk Hit-and-Run Not Caught... Funeral for Deceased Woman in Her 20s Held'

Bereaved Family "Daughter Who Only Suffered" Breaks Down in Tears

On the 24th, the funeral of the victim of the 'hit-and-run drunk driving fatal accident' that occurred in Gwangju was held on the 26th.

On the 26th, Yonhap News reported that the funeral of the female victim in her 20s was held at a funeral hall in Buk-gu, Gwangju. The victim's father, in a phone call with Yonhap News, sobbed, "It feels like my heart is being torn apart, it hurts so much," and said, "My daughter, who only suffered, has already passed away."

On the afternoon of the 25th, officials from the National Forensic Service conducted a detailed examination of the Maserati involved in the 'drunk hit-and-run fatal accident' at the Gwangju Seobu Police Station.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The victim was riding a motorcycle with her boyfriend, who works as a delivery driver, late at night on the 24th when they were hit by a Maserati vehicle suspected of drunk driving on an 8-lane road in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, and passed away. The victim was transported to the hospital in a state of cardiac arrest but ultimately died. The victim's boyfriend, who was driving the motorcycle, suffered severe injuries including crushed pelvis and jawbone and is currently being treated in the intensive care unit of a university hospital. It is known that the boyfriend is still unaware of the victim's death.

The Maserati driver has not yet been apprehended. CCTV footage installed on nearby roads captured the driver, identified as Mr. A, engaging in a high-speed chase through the city with his group, who were driving a Mercedes-Benz, just before the accident. At that time, Mr. A, in his 30s, violated traffic signals along with the Mercedes-Benz before reaching the accident site. The Mercedes-Benz narrowly passed the motorcycle carrying the victim, but the Maserati, chasing the Mercedes-Benz, did not reduce speed and struck the rear seat of the motorcycle.

After abandoning the Maserati and fleeing the scene, Mr. A got into the Mercedes-Benz with his group and escaped to another area. As of two days after the accident, his whereabouts remain unknown. The police have found evidence that the group drank alcohol in the Sangmu district of Seo-gu, Gwangju before the accident and are investigating the case as a drunk driving incident.

On the 26th, the police booked Mr. B, the Mercedes-Benz driver who helped Mr. A escape by driving him to another area, on charges of aiding a criminal's escape. The vehicles driven by Mr. A and Mr. B were confirmed to be registered under different corporate names. However, the police have been unable to contact the Seoul-based corporation that owns the Maserati driven by Mr. A, and are investigating whether the vehicle is a "ghost car" (illegally registered vehicle).

Through Mr. B's testimony, the police identified Mr. A's identity, but since Mr. A's address was falsely registered at an administrative welfare center in Buk-gu, Gwangju, and his occupation remains unknown, the Gwangju Police Criminal Mobile Unit has deployed about 30 officers to track him down. Additionally, fearing that Mr. A might flee abroad, the police have requested a travel ban order against him, and if the escape prolongs, they may switch to a public manhunt. A police official told Yonhap News, "We are focusing on apprehending Mr. A, who is currently on the run within the country," and added, "After arresting him, we will continue investigating any additional crimes related to this case."