SEOUL – A 68-year-old driver has been arrested following a fatal car crash that occurred near Seoul City Hall last month, resulting in nine deaths.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for the driver, identified only by his surname, Cha, on Tuesday. The court cited the significant flight risk posed by Cha, who had been hospitalized until recently for a broken rib suffered during the incident. During his court appearance, Cha expressed remorse to the victims’ families but did not provide further comments about the crash’s circumstances.
The tragic incident took place on July 1 when Cha’s vehicle reportedly traveled the wrong way on a one-way street for about 200 meters before colliding with pedestrians and other vehicles. Despite Cha’s claims that a vehicle malfunction was responsible for the accident, the National Forensic Service has indicated that driver error is the likely cause. This case continues to attract substantial public and media attention due to its severity and the ongoing debate over the cause of the crash.