A truck crashed into a market in South Korea’s Bucheon on Thursday, killing two people.
The incident took place at a market in Bucheon, a place about 20 km west of South Korea’s capital, Seoul, at about 10.55 am local time
A Reuters report suggests that the truck appeared to reverse for 28 metres before accelerating towards the outdoor market, the official said.
The Chosun Daily has reported that two women from the 20 injured immediately went into cardiac arrest and later died.
At least eight others have sustained serious injuries. All the victims were taken to a nearby hospital.
Jin Mo, a 43-year-old merchant at the market, told The Chosun Daily, said, “I was eating inside the store when I heard screams outside, followed by a loud noise as a car passed by and stopped with a bang.”
Another merchant stated, “The sound during the accident was so loud that it felt like the building was collapsing.”
Driver Booked
Park Geum-cheon, an official at Bucheon’s fire station, told the Manila Times that witnesses told investigators that the vehicle initially reversed about 28 meters (92 feet) before driving forward 150 meters (492 feet), hitting pedestrians on the way. Fire authorities dispatched 20 pieces of equipment and 60 personnel to the scene, reported Xinhua news.
The driver, a man in his 60s, has blamed a sudden surge of acceleration and brake failure for the incident.
The Chosun Daily reported a police official confirming at a briefing that, on testing, it was clear that the driver was not intoxicated. He was rescued after being trapped in the door and was not in a critical condition.
The man has been booked under charges of negligent homicide and injury under the Traffic Accident Special Act.
Earlier this month, a Japanese tourist was killed in Seoul while another was injured after being hit by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, said police.
(with inputs from Reuters)
