Reversed Car While Intoxicated, Then Accelerated Forward
Fortunately, No Casualties Reported
An accident occurred in front of a restaurant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where a drunk driving vehicle crashed into the exterior wall of the building, prompting the police to launch an investigation. Although there were no casualties, concerns have once again been raised about the dangers of drunk driving.
An accident occurred in front of a restaurant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where a drunk driving vehicle crashed into the exterior wall of the building. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
According to a Yonhap News report, the Pyeongtaek Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 19th that it had booked a man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, without detention on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving) and is currently investigating him.
Mr. A is suspected of crashing his Sonata sedan into the exterior wall and interior fixtures of a restaurant in Ichung-dong, Pyeongtaek, at around 9 p.m. the previous day. At the time of the accident, Mr. A was reversing his car in the parking lot when he suddenly accelerated, broke through the glass window, and drove about halfway into the restaurant.
An accident occurred in front of a restaurant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where a drunk driving vehicle crashed into the building's exterior wall. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Fortunately, there were no customers or employees nearby at the time of the accident, so no injuries occurred, but it was a highly dangerous situation. The restaurant's exterior wall and interior fixtures were severely damaged. Responding to a report, police arrived at the scene and immediately apprehended Mr. A. A breathalyzer test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration exceeded the license revocation threshold.
The police are investigating Mr. A to determine the exact circumstances of his drunk driving and the details of the accident.
Meanwhile, a similar drunk driving incident occurred in Seoul. At around 6:45 p.m. on the 18th of last month, a man in his 70s, identified as Mr. B, drove his car onto the sidewalk while intoxicated in the Sinwol-dong area of Yangcheon District. The area near the accident site is densely populated with cafes and restaurants. At the time, Mr. B crashed into sidewalk structures and motorcycles with his vehicle. It was reported that the car continued to accelerate and did not stop during the incident.
As cases of drunk drivers crashing into sidewalks and commercial areas without any protective measures continue, public safety is being seriously threatened. There is a growing call to recognize drunk driving not just as a traffic violation, but as a serious crime that can claim lives at any moment.
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