Police applied for an arrest warrant for a taxi driver in his 70s who caused a vehicle ramming crash near Jonggak Station on Seoul Subway Line 1.
The Jongno Police Station in Seoul said on the 4th that it applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 70s, identified only as A, on charges including death or injury under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents, drugged driving under the Road Traffic Act, and death or injury from dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.
At about 6:05 p.m. on the 2nd, A was driving an electric taxi near Jonggak Station in Jongno District, Seoul, when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed in succession into a crosswalk signal pole and two passenger cars.
A female pedestrian in her 40s died in the crash, and 14 people, including A, were injured and taken to hospitals. As of now, no injuries are considered life-threatening.
Police arrested A on suspicion of causing death or injury under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents, and added a charge of drugged driving under the Road Traffic Act after a rapid drug test detected morphine. However, morphine can also be detected from some prescription drugs, such as cold medicine.
Police are said to have requested a detailed analysis from the National Forensic Service.