Deadly car crash incident in Seoul killed nine people
- The man believed to be in his 60s, drove the vehicle into pedestrians at a traffic stop.
- At least four more people have been hospitalized.
- The car was driving in the wrong direction and collided with two other vehicles before striking pedestrians.
Police say a car ploughed into a crowd of people in the South Korean capital Seoul, killing at least nine. The traffic accident occurred around 21:30 local time (13:30 BST).
According to Yonhap news agency, a man believed to be in his 60s drove the vehicle into pedestrians waiting at a traffic stop. At least four more people have been hospitalized.
Police are investigating the incident and have warned that casualty numbers might increase. According to local media reports, the car was driving in the wrong direction and collided with two other vehicles before striking pedestrians.
Police reported that the accident occurred at an intersection near Seoul City Hall. The driver in question, who was arrested at the scene, reportedly told police that the car suddenly accelerated. Six people died at the scene, while three others succumbed to their injuries later.
Yonhap, South Korea’s news agency, reports that the arrested man is 68 years old. According to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on road safety in the country, the speed limit is 50 km/h (31 mph) on general urban roads and 30 km/h in residential areas.
In 2022, pedestrians accounted for 35% of all road deaths in South Korea, which the agency reported as a high share compared to other OECD countries. However, the OECD highlighted in the same report that road fatalities in the country had declined in recent years.
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