Man faces arrest for car accident killing 3, injuring 14

By Lee Kyung-min

Police said Monday it would request the prosecution to seek an arrest warrant for a man who killed three pedestrians and injured 14 by causing a seven-car pile-up in Busan the previous day.

According to the Haeundae Police Station, the driver of a Peugeot vehicle will face arrest although he himself has been hospitalized following the accident.

The driver, surnamed Kim, 53, allegedly ran over pedestrians and crashed with other cars, causing the seven-car pile-up, in a crossroad in Haeundae at 5:16 p.m. on Sunday. Three pedestrians died and 14 other pedestrians and drivers of the cars were injured. Kim caused the accident right after he had hit the back bumper of another vehicle only 300 meters away from the crossroad. Surveillance video showed Kim speed up after the first accident, driving at a speed up to 120 kilometers per hour.

Kim told police that he does not remember what happened and only found himself in the emergency room. He was neither drunk, nor intoxicated.

Police suspect that he temporarily lost conscious due to a brain disease he has received treatment for. He said he did not take his medication the day of the accident.

Kim had three similar accidents between 2013 and 2014. At those times, only insurance claims were made and Kim was not booked as no casualties occurred.