Accident Vehicle Blocks First Lane, Halting Traffic
Citizen Operates Forklift from Nearby Building to Clear the Scene
As a result of traffic congestion caused by the recovery of an accident vehicle during rush hour, a forklift appeared and swiftly lifted and moved the problematic car, according to reports. On July 3, the YouTube channel 'Korean National Police Agency' uploaded a video titled "The Ultimate Weapon Forklift That Solved a Gridlocked Road." At the time, the police responded to a report of a "traffic accident" and were dispatched to a two-lane one-way road. The damaged vehicle from the accident was parked in the first lane. Traffic police who rushed to the scene assisted in controlling traffic and began clearing the accident.
At that moment, a forklift suddenly emerged from a building next to the road. The forklift operator lifted the vehicle and moved it to a safe location. The forklift operator turned out to be a citizen who had witnessed the accident. It was reported that he noticed the forklift in a building beside the road and borrowed it to assist at the scene. Thanks to the forklift, the police were able to clear the accident site, restore traffic flow, and quickly wrap up the incident. The police stated, "We presented a letter of appreciation to the citizen who helped clear the accident scene during rush hour."
Viewers who watched the video commented, "Both the police officer and the citizen are truly admirable," "Korean citizens have a unique trait of talented individuals appearing when needed, solving problems like lightning, and then disappearing," and "It was perfect how the forklift operator knew the car's center of gravity was at the front and lifted it from the front wheels." However, one viewer noted, "While it's heartwarming, I'm also concerned because there are often cases where citizens helping at accident scenes on the road end up causing secondary accidents."
In fact, over the past five years, there have been 258 secondary accidents on highways nationwide. Out of these 258 cases, as many as 151 people lost their lives. The fatality rate is approximately 58%, which is about seven times higher than that of primary accidents. Secondary accidents often directly impact passengers or drivers who have just exited their vehicles, leading to greater casualties. In particular, stepping onto the highway shoulder to clear an accident can increase the risk of injury or death. However, remaining inside a crashed vehicle is also dangerous. The best course of action when an accident occurs on a highway is to move the car to the shoulder and then keep yourself as far away from the vehicle as possible to prevent secondary accidents.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
