The police investigating the collapse of a retaining wall at a overpass at Gajang Intersection in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, raided a road safety inspection company.
Around 9 a.m. on the 13th, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's special investigation team stated that they were executing search warrants against four companies responsible for the safety inspections of the road where the accident occurred.
Those targeted in the search were companies that have been responsible for safety inspections since May 2023, just before the road opened completely, and they are known to be located in Anyang, Hanam, and Yongin.
Road safety inspections are required to be conducted with a detailed inspection once every two years and regular inspections twice a year. The city of Osan has carried out a total of five safety inspections (two detailed and three regular) under separate contracts with these companies.
The police plan to analyze the documents and electronic information related to safety inspections obtained through the raids to check whether the inspections were conducted properly.
The search related to the collapse accident is the second, following the first raid on the city hall of Osan, the construction company Hyundai E&C, and the supervising agency Korea Authority of Land & Infrastructure Safety (KALIS) on the 22nd of last month. The police determined that an additional search of the road safety inspection company was necessary during the analysis of the seized items and executed the warrant that day.
Earlier, the police charged three public officials, including the Head of Team at Osan City Hall, with negligent homicide, and they are also conducting witness interrogations.
A police official said, "It is true that we executed the search warrant, but since this is an ongoing investigation, I cannot disclose further details."
On the 16th of last month, around 7:04 p.m., a retaining wall 10 meters high at the overpass at Gajang Intersection in Gajang-dong, Osan, collapsed, crushing a car passing below, resulting in the death of a 40-year-old driver.
Causes of the accident are being attributed to heavy rain with a precipitation of 39.5mm, inadequate road control despite risks from potholes and cracks, and poor construction and road maintenance.
In particular, criticisms have arisen that an immediate response was not taken despite a complaint being received the day before the collapse, warning that "there is a risk of the retaining wall collapsing if it rains," which failed to prevent the accident.