What Happened in Seoul? Bus Crashes into Pedestrians, Leaving Many Injured
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two people seriously injured in the bus crash.
- Investigation ongoing for the cause of the accident.
- Authorities dispatched personnel for area security.
- Recent highway accidents in North Gyeongsang raise safety concerns.
- Community left shaken by the events.
Seoul, Jan 16 (NationPress) A bus veered off course and crashed into pedestrians in western Seoul on Friday, resulting in two individuals suffering serious injuries and an additional 11 people sustaining injuries, as reported by rescue officials.
The intracity bus deviated from the road at an intersection close to Seodaemun Station at approximately 1:15 p.m., colliding with pedestrians before smashing into a building, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Among the seriously injured is a woman in her 50s who has a broken leg, along with another pedestrian in his 30s who is bleeding from the head. Both were transported to the hospital alongside six other injured individuals.
Authorities have not detected any indications of drunk driving but will conduct drug testing on the bus driver in his 50s, who also suffered injuries.
A witness recounted that the bus was driving straight before unexpectedly colliding with a car, a motorcycle, and pedestrians. The woman mentioned she heard an explosive noise, likening it to a “battlefield” before escaping the scene.
Officials are set to investigate the precise cause of this incident. They are currently in the process of relocating the bus and have dispatched 271 personnel and 18 vehicles to secure the area.
On January 10, five fatalities occurred in multiple accidents on a highway in the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, which authorities suspect were caused by black ice.
One accident transpired at 6:20 a.m. near an interchange in the Sangju section of the Seosan-Yeongdeok Expressway, where a truck veered off the road after colliding with a guardrail while trying to avoid a halted vehicle, resulting in the driver’s death.
Other reported incidents in the area include a sedan crash that resulted in the deaths of all four occupants. Police are probing whether these are linked to another crash involving a trailer vehicle.
In another incident, an SUV caught fire after hitting a truck and crashing into a guardrail at 6:35 a.m. As of 11 a.m., the death toll stood at five with numerous injuries. Authorities estimate that over 20 vehicles were involved.
Due to these accidents, traffic on portions of the highway was temporarily restricted. Investigators are looking into the crashes, suspecting they were triggered by black ice formed from frozen snow or rain.