Driving without removing frost from the windshield leads to pedestrian collision
Court sentences 1 year and 6 months imprisonment and orders immediate custody
A woman in her 50s who fatally struck a pedestrian in her 60s at an apartment complex while driving with a windshield covered in frost during a cold wave warning was sentenced to prison and taken into custody in court.
On the 28th, the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judge Park Hyunjin) sentenced A (58, female), who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling (causing death), to 1 year and 6 months in prison and ordered her immediate detention, according to Yonhap News.
A was tried on charges of fatally hitting pedestrian B (61, female) while driving on a side road near an apartment shopping complex in Socho-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon Province, around 9:35 a.m. on January 16. At the time, A was driving without clearing the frost from her car’s front windshield, resulting in impaired forward visibility. On the day of the accident, a cold wave advisory and warning were in effect across Gangwon Province, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius in Daegwallyeong and Pyeongchang in the morning. After hitting B, who fell to the ground, A ran over her with the front passenger-side wheel and rear wheel of her car. B suffered severe head injuries and died the day after the accident while receiving treatment.
Presiding Judge Park stated, “The victim lost her life in an instant without even having the chance to put her affairs in order. The defendant drove without removing the frost from the front windshield, impairing her forward view, and struck the victim walking in the apartment complex, resulting in death. It is recognized that the defendant failed to fulfill the duty of care to check the front and sides while driving.” He added, “The defendant’s negligence was significant, the outcome was severe, and the bereaved family is demanding a harsh punishment.”
Regarding the sentencing rationale, the judge explained, “However, considering that the defendant is a first-time offender, admitted to the crime, and that some financial compensation was made through comprehensive automobile insurance, the sentence was determined accordingly.” He further noted that although the defendant deposited 30 million won as a criminal bond, the victim’s side clearly expressed their refusal to accept the bond, submitting a consent form for the return of the bond, so the deposit was not considered a meaningful mitigating factor.
After the first trial verdict was announced, both A and the prosecution filed appeals citing unfair sentencing.
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