Four-Vehicle Collision at Apgujeong Station in Seoul... Suspect Booked for Drug-Impaired Driving

Man in His 50s Says He Drove After Taking Psychiatric Prescription Medication

A man in his 50s was apprehended by police after causing a chain-reaction collision while driving under the influence of drugs.

The Seoul Gangnam Police Station announced on the 30th that they have booked Mr. A, a man in his 50s, without detention on charges of causing injury by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and driving under the influence of drugs.

Exterior view of Gangnam Police Station in Seoul. Gangnam Police Station

According to the police, Mr. A is suspected of causing a four-vehicle collision and injuring four people at around 8 p.m. on the 23rd in front of Exit 5 of Apgujeong Station in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu.

Four vehicles, including Mr. A's car, were damaged in the accident, but all those injured sustained only minor injuries and were not transported to the hospital.

A preliminary drug test conducted by the police on Mr. A returned a positive result for benzodiazepines, a psychotropic drug commonly used to treat panic and anxiety disorders. Under current law, a person can be punished for driving if they are deemed unable to operate a vehicle normally due to psychotropic drugs or similar substances.

It was reported that Mr. A stated during the police investigation, "I drove after taking psychiatric prescription medication."

The police have requested a detailed analysis from the National Forensic Service and are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.