A man in his 60s charged with '10 years imprisonment' for fatally hitting an elementary student with a 25-ton truck in a school zone

Illegal Right Turn Violating Road Traffic Act in Children's Protection Zone

The prosecution has demanded a 10-year prison sentence for a man in his 60s accused of fatally hitting an elementary school student with a cargo truck in a school zone.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The prosecution has demanded a 10-year prison sentence for a man in his 60s who is accused of fatally hitting an 11-year-old elementary school student with a 25-ton cargo truck while driving in a school zone, despite the driver claiming innocence.

On the morning of the 16th, at the Incheon District Court's 15th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Lee Gyu-hoon), during the sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested a 10-year prison term for Mr. A (65), who was detained and indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (death in a child protection zone).

The prosecution stated, "Mr. A has four prior convictions related to traffic accidents," and added, "This case involves the death of a child in a child protection zone, and there has been no settlement with the bereaved family," explaining the reason for the sentence request.

Mr. A's defense has consistently claimed innocence throughout the trial. His lawyer explained, "There has never been any report that the accident was caused by the victim's jaywalking," and added, "The investigative authorities claim the accident occurred because of a right turn, but this incident happened when the victim child suddenly ran out from the straight lane before the right turn from the second lane, and the driver could not avoid the collision."

He continued, "Considering that Mr. A was driving at 20 km/h, much lower than the speed limit of 50 km/h, that the victim child suddenly appeared between parked cargo trucks in the third lane, which could not have been foreseen or prevented, and that he was slowing down to make a right turn, we ask for a not guilty verdict for the defendant," and added, "Regardless of the claim of innocence, a settlement process with the victim's family is underway through the driver's insurance."

In his final statement, Mr. A pleaded for forgiveness, saying, "I was working to make a living when the incident happened."

Earlier, on March 18 at 1:51 p.m., Mr. A was detained and indicted on charges of fatally hitting B (11) with a 25-ton cargo truck in the child protection zone in front of Shingwang Elementary School in Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. At the time of the accident, B was found trapped under the vehicle without breathing or pulse and was transported to the hospital by paramedics but ultimately died.

Investigations revealed that Mr. A violated the Road Traffic Act regulation requiring slow driving along the right edge of the road before making a right turn, instead making an illegal right turn from the second lane, which is a straight lane, on a three-lane one-way road.

Meanwhile, Mr. A's sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:50 p.m. on the 30th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.