Daycare center bus crashes in Cheongju, killing 2 and injuring 10
The vehicles destroyed from a string of collisions, Wednesday, at an intersection at Sachang-dong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The accident killed two and injured 10. / Yonhap
By You Soo-sun
A daycare center-run bus crashed into a sidewalk, Wednesday, killing two people and injuring 10 others according to police. After hitting the sidewalk, the bus also collided with three cars heading in the opposite direction. The accident occurred around 12:26 p.m. near an intersection at Sachang-dong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.
Two elderly women, identified by their surnames Park, 85, and Kim, 73, died after they were transported to a nearby hospital. The 10 others ― including passengers of the cars and pedestrians ― were injured and transported to local hospitals for treatment; no serious injuries were reported. The bus, operated by a daycare center, was carrying four members of a church, but no children.
It had been going from Bongmyeong-dong to Sachang-dong when it suddenly accelerated and crossed the center line of the road, hitting three people who had been waiting to cross the street. It collided with three cars behind the traffic light.
The driver of the bus, identified by his surname Kim, 57, said that the bus had suddenly stopped functioning. He claimed it appeared to be a mechanical problem.
The police collected footage from the scene, but did not find any containing the accident. They are further investigating the incident while leaving open different possibilities, including mechanical problems and reckless driving.