Driver’s error, not car defect, caused fatal Seoul City Hall crash: Police

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Driver’s error, not car defect, caused fatal Seoul City Hall crash: Police

Published: 01 Aug. 2024, 12:27

Seoul Namdaemun Police Precinct chief Ryu Jae-hyeok speaks during a press briefing regarding the deadly car crash that occurred by Seoul City Hall on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Police investigating the fatal car crash that killed nine people in downtown Seoul in early July have concluded that poor driving skills were to blame.

The 68-year-old driver, identified only by his surname Cha, had consistently claimed that a defect in the car led to the crash. However, Seoul Namdaemun Police Precinct chief Ryu Jae-hyeok stated in a briefing Thursday morning that poor driving was the actual cause.

On July 1, Cha’s Genesis G80 traveled 200 meters in the wrong direction on a one-way road near Seoul City Hall before crashing into sidewalk guardrails, hitting pedestrians and colliding with two other cars. The incident resulted in nine deaths, mostly office workers, and seven injuries.

According to Ryu, the National Forensic Service (NFS) found no defects in the car’s accelerator or brake and the Event Data Recorder (EDR) was functioning normally. The EDR showed that the brake was inactive for 0.5 seconds before and during the crash.

The EDR records technical data about the vehicle and its occupants shortly before, during and after a crash.

“CCTV footage and recordings from nearby cars confirmed that the brake lights were only briefly active after the crash, with autonomous brake lights flickering,” Ryu said.

Police had sent the Genesis G80, along with its black box recording and EDR data, to the NFS on July 2 for analysis. They also reviewed 12 CCTV recordings from the accident site and black box data from four vehicles.

Further investigation revealed that Cha had pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, with evidence showing “records of him stepping on and off the accelerator” and “scuff marks on his shoes matching the accelerator pedal.”

These findings contradict Cha’s claim of sudden unintended acceleration and malfunctioning brakes.

Police have forwarded the case to the prosecution for potential violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents. Cha was arrested on Tuesday.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]