Two individuals lost their lives and a minimum of 18 others sustained injuries following an incident where a truck collided with pedestrians at an open-air market.
The tragic event occurred on Thursday, November 13, in Bucheon city within the greater Seoul metropolitan area of South Korea, as confirmed by fire and police authorities.
Law enforcement officials are interrogating the unnamed truck driver, a man in his 60s, who was found not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to Son Byeong-sam, a police official from Bucheon. A witness mentioned that the truck seemed to be moving at a high speed.
A photo taken after the crash shows the truck positioned in front of market stalls while two men examine the scene. Debris is scattered around, and the truck’s windshield is shattered.
A fire department representative reported that the truck initially reversed for 28 meters before accelerating down a passageway. It then traveled 150 meters into the market before finally coming to a stop.
Yonhap News Agency stated that two individuals succumbed to cardiac arrest, while 18 others suffered injuries. The driver was rescued after being trapped inside the vehicle, with the incident happening around 10:55 am local time on Thursday.
The driver claimed that the truck’s brakes had malfunctioned. Police confirmed that he was not under the influence of alcohol. A witness described the event as “extremely terrifying” when the truck plowed through the market.
This incident unfolded in Bucheon, approximately 16 miles west of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism reported that about 3.4 million international tourists visited the country between January and March last year.
A market trader named Jin, aged 43, recounted, “I was inside the store eating when I heard screams outside, followed by a loud noise as a car passed by and crashed.”
Another market worker mentioned that the sound of the truck crashing was so deafening that it resembled a building collapse.
According to Park Geum-cheon from Bucheon’s fire station, witnesses informed investigators that the vehicle first reversed about 28 meters before proceeding forward 150 meters, hitting pedestrians along the way.
The driver alleged that his vehicle had experienced a malfunction, and authorities are currently reviewing security camera footage.