Truck Crashes Into Bucheon Market, Killing 2 and Injuring 19

A 1-ton truck crashed into a conventional market in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in the deaths of two customers in their 60s and 70...

A 1-ton truck crashed into a conventional market in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in the deaths of two customers in their 60s and 70s, with 19 others injured. The male driver in his 60s stated, "I pressed the brake, but the vehicle didn't stop." Authorities are examining surveillance video to find out if the driver accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

As reported by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, the incident took place around 10:57 a.m. on the 13th at Jeil Market in Wonjong-dong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon City. A blue one-ton truck, which was backing up near a fish store at the market's entrance, suddenly accelerated and drove through a narrow alley. The vehicle moved 150 meters before colliding with an iron column and coming to a stop.

Two female customers who were struck by the truck were taken to a hospital but later passed away. Nineteen other people, including customers and shopkeepers, were treated. Fire officials said, "The majority of the injured were elderly people in their 60s or older."

The truck driver, Mr. A (66), was taken into custody by the police who arrived at the scene. He was known to have run a fish stall at the market for around 15 years. Firefighters mentioned that although Mr. A was not severely hurt, his body was stuck in the car door. Shortly after being freed, he said, “I hit the brake, but it didn't respond,” indicating a possible sudden and unexpected acceleration caused by a vehicle problem. The police disclosed that Mr. A mentioned he was on medication for moyamoya disease, a rare disorder in which the blood vessels supplying the brain become obstructed.

Law enforcement obtained surveillance video to investigate the incident. A police representative stated, "We verified that the truck's brake lights did not activate," and mentioned, "We believe the driver may have pressed the wrong pedals." No skid marks, usually seen when brakes are used, were discovered. According to authorities, no alcohol or drugs were found in Mr. A's system.

Officials intend to ask the National Forensic Service and the Korea Road Traffic Authority to examine the event data recorder (EDR), often referred to as a black box, which documents details such as vehicle speed, braking, and accelerator usage.

The location of the accident was disordered, featuring refrigerators, bikes, and vendors' carts scattered around. Shattered glass, cucumbers, sleepwear, and socks were lying everywhere. An iron deep fryer was twisted like candy, and the truck's front end was badly damaged, with the steering wheel crushed.

Merchants stated, "If we had taken a small step forward to sell our items, we would have perished," and "I keep experiencing the accident repeatedly, and my entire body trembles." Some individuals mentioned experiencing headaches.

Eyewitnesses described the truck as "speeding forward" and "crashing through stalls and pedestrians." A vendor, Mr. Jin (43), mentioned, "A loud noise similar to an explosion made me believe the market building was collapsing." A witness close to the fish store said, "Mr. A was unloading crabs and shrimp when he attempted to reverse the truck, but it suddenly surged forward."

The significant number of casualties was linked to the market being packed before the kimchi-making season. The narrow alley, just wide enough for a single vehicle, offered minimal space for people to avoid danger. The market extends for 480 meters, featuring 170 shops located in a 3-meter-wide passage. Video footage captured individuals running into stores seeking safety. Mr. Park (56), who owns a raw fish restaurant, stated, “A customer in the alley jumped into the store and struck their head against the refrigerator. When I went outside, approximately 10 people who couldn't escape were lying on the ground, bleeding from head injuries.”

There has been a significant increase in vehicle rampage incidents recently. In July of last year, a car operated by a person in their 60s in Jung-gu, Seoul, resulted in nine fatalities. In December of the same year, a driver in their 70s caused one death and injured 11 people at Ggaebi Market in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. In May of this year, an incident in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, led to 11 injuries. Most drivers attributed these incidents to sudden unintended acceleration caused by vehicle malfunctions, although no case has been officially confirmed as such.