Elementary Student Killed by Recycling Collection Truck... Bereaved Family Files Police Complaint Against Collection Company

Bereaved Families and Apartment Officials File Lawsuit Over 'Safety Management Negligence'

An incident occurred in which an elementary school student was hit and killed by a garbage collection vehicle reversing inside an apartment complex. The bereaved family pointed out the poor safety management of those involved and filed a complaint with the police against five people, including the collection company and apartment officials.

According to Yonhap News on the 19th, citing the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station, the bereaved family submitted a complaint to the Bukbu Police Station the previous day, stating that the accident occurred due to the defendants' poor safety management.

On October 31st, students are placing snacks and paying tribute at a memorial space for an elementary school student who was struck and killed by a collection vehicle at an apartment in Sinyong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News.

The complaint stated that driver A of the collection vehicle violated the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents by neglecting the duty to operate the vehicle safely within the apartment complex. Additionally, the bereaved family claimed that the other four individuals, including the head of the collection company, the apartment management office manager, and representatives of the residents' association, violated the laws on professional negligence causing death and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act by failing to properly conduct safety education and measures to prevent the accident.

Through the complaint, the bereaved family revealed, "There used to be a curb at the accident site to prevent vehicles from entering, but the management office officials removed it, which caused the accident."

The police, having received the complaint, plan to assign the case to the relevant department to ascertain the facts.

The accident occurred on the afternoon of the 30th of last month inside an apartment complex in Sinyong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. A first-grade elementary school student was hit and killed by a recycling collection vehicle that was reversing. The police have booked A on charges of death under the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents and plan to transfer the case to the prosecution soon.