3 dead, 10 injured after van rams into sign post on island off Jeju
This photo provided by a reader shows the wreckage of a van that rammed into a sign post on Udo Island of the southern island province of Jeju, Monday. Yonhap
JEJU — A van driven by a 62-year-old struck pedestrians and rammed into a sign post on an island off the southern resort island of Jeju on Monday, leaving three people dead and 10 others injured, officials said.
The accident happened shortly after the vehicle disembarked from a ferry on Udo Island and suddenly traveled at a high speed for about 150 meters before ramming into the sign post near a ferry waiting room, according to the Jeju Dongbu Police Station and the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters.
A 60-something woman inside the car and two pedestrians — a man in his 70s and another man in his 60s — were rushed to a hospital via helicopters due to serious injuries but were later ruled dead.
The driver and nine other people were also sent to the hospital for minor and serious injuries.
Officials said the victims were all Korean tourists and that there were six people on board the vehicle.
According to a witness, the vehicle came to a stop after hitting pedestrians and ramming into the post.
Police have determined the driver, also a tourist, was not under the influence.
Police are investigating the exact cause of the accident, including the possibility of sudden unintended acceleration.