Marathon runner left brain-dead after being hit by truck during race
A runner is left brain-dead after being hit by a truck during a marathon in North Chungcheong Province. gettyimagebank
A runner in his 20s was hit by a truck during a marathon in North Chungcheong Province, leaving him brain-dead.
According to police and fire authorities, the crash occurred at about 10:08 a.m. Monday, in Okcheon County during a marathon event. A 1-ton Porter truck hit the runner, a 25-year-old athlete from the Cheongju City Hall team.
The accident happened when the driver of the truck, traveling in the first lane, suddenly changed into the second lane. The race course had two lanes: One remained open to regular traffic and the other was reserved for marathon runners.
The victim was running at the front of the pack, with a police vehicle escorting runners about 20 to 30 meters ahead.
The North Chungcheong Sports Council said the runner suffered severe head injuries and was taken to a general hospital in Daejeon, where he was later declared brain-dead and placed on life support. He joined the Cheongju City Hall team in August and had recently recorded strong results in multiple races.
The relay marathon event, organized by the North Chungcheong Province Athletics Federation as part of a county competition, was scheduled to take place over three days. Organizers said the race began after traffic control and other safety measures were completed, but the accident occurred unexpectedly. The event was immediately canceled.
The truck’s driver, a man in his 80s, told police he “did not see the person.” Police said he was not driving under the influence. An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.