A Sudden Tragedy on Children's Day in Gwacheon...
High School Girl Remains Unconscious
Police Book Driver on Charges of Violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents
It has been reported that a high school girl who was struck by a wheel that detached from a large vehicle in operation at a bus stop in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, has remained unconscious for more than 40 days since the accident, drawing widespread sympathy.
According to the Gwacheon Police Station on June 19, at around 1:00 p.m. on May 5, which was Children's Day, the left fourth row (last row) wheel of a 25-ton dump truck driven by Mr. A, traveling toward Indeokwon on a road in Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon, suddenly came off.
This wheel, which is a dual-tire structure and therefore very heavy, detached while the vehicle was in motion and rolled down the sloped road, gaining acceleration. It then struck three pedestrians, including a teenage high school girl, Ms. B, who were standing at the bus stop on the opposite side of the road.
As a result of the accident, Ms. B suffered a severe head injury and was transported to the hospital unconscious, while a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s sustained minor injuries and also received hospital treatment. It is reported that Ms. B has remained in a coma for 46 days since the accident, causing deep concern among local residents.
The police have booked Mr. A on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents (causing injury) and are investigating the detailed circumstances of the accident, including the vehicle's maintenance history. A police official stated, "At the time of the accident, there was little traffic at the scene, so it appears that the wheel that detached from the vehicle rolled directly across the road to the bus stop on the opposite side," adding, "We plan to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident."
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