According to News1 on the 19th, the Gumi Police Station in Gyeongsangbuk-do reported that a woman in her 60s, identified as A, has been referred to the prosecution on charges of causing the death of three pedestrians by hitting them with a vehicle, under the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling. A photo from News1 shows the incident. A tragic accident occurred on a downhill road in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, where a car hit pedestrians directly, resulting in the death of three individuals. The National Forensic Service (NFS) investigation revealed that there was no indication that the car involved in the accident had its engine running at the time of the incident.
On May 15th, during Buddha’s birthday in Gumi, A was driving an SUV down the hill on Munsa Undeok Street and hit four pedestrians, resulting in the death of three and injury of one. The street had a steep slope of about 35 degrees. The NFS investigation found no record of the car’s Engine Data Recorder (EDR) showing the engine was running. The black box footage from nearby vehicles also indicated that the brake lights of A’s car were not illuminated.
After the accident, A claimed that she had turned on the engine and pressed the brakes, but they did not function. However, based on the NFS investigation results, the police believe that the accident occurred after the car was turned on and the gear was shifted into drive mode. According to an SBS report, when the engine is not running, the vacuum booster, which increases brake force, does not operate correctly, causing the vehicle to accelerate even when the brake pedal is pressed but not working.
Experts advise that in such situations, pulling the parking brake or colliding with the surrounding terrain or objects could help reduce the impact.