"Driver Negligence", "Exterior Wall Defect"... Estimated Speed of Busan Taxi Crash at 70 km/h

A taxi falling through the wall on the 5th floor of a large supermarket.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] It has been revealed that the taxi involved in last year's accident, which fell from the 5th floor parking lot of a large mart in Busan and caused 7 casualties, was traveling at a speed of 70 km/h at the time.

Previously, on December 30 last year, a taxi broke through the outer wall of the 5th floor parking lot of a large mart in Yeonje-gu, Busan, and crashed into vehicles waiting at a traffic signal. The driver died in the accident, and five drivers and passengers in the waiting vehicles, as well as two pedestrians hit by debris from the broken wall, were injured.

The Yeonje Police Station in Busan announced on the 11th that, after a detailed inspection of the accident taxi with the National Forensic Service (NFS), it was confirmed that the taxi was traveling at a speed of 70 km/h. According to the police, the taxi started from the 5th floor parking lot of the large mart and drove slowly for about 3 seconds, then accelerated for about 3 to 4 seconds but failed to turn toward the exit, going straight and breaking through the wall before falling down.

The police stated, "The front of the taxi was severely damaged due to the fall, and an engine fire also occurred, making it difficult to confirm any vehicle defects."

The NFS plans to conduct a detailed analysis of the vehicle data recorder (EDR) to focus on the taxi driver's responses such as accelerator and brake operations. Separately, a drug test is also underway for the deceased taxi driver.

A police official said, "We will know for sure once the inspection results come out, but the possibility of vehicle defects such as sudden unintended acceleration seems low," adding, "The detailed inspection report is expected to be released in about two weeks."

A vehicle that fell from the 5th-floor parking lot of a large supermarket onto the road.
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 6th, the family of the taxi driver filed a petition to the Blue House, claiming that the outer wall of the large mart parking lot exacerbated the accident. The petitioner, A, who identified themselves as the child of the deceased taxi driver, began by saying, "On behalf of the bereaved family, I sincerely apologize and express my deep sorrow to the victims who suffered psychological and material damages due to this accident."

They continued, "The parking lot wall, which appears to be only strong enough to be knocked down by a healthy adult's kick. It is astonishing how such a flimsy condition could have passed building completion inspection in a multi-use facility (large mart) that sees countless visitors daily."

They added, "According to the Parking Lot Act Enforcement Regulations, structures must be installed to withstand a frontal collision by a 2-ton vehicle at 20 km/h, but the large mart's neglect of the flimsy outer wall is an evasion of responsibility."

Meanwhile, some have suggested that the incident might have been caused by sudden unintended acceleration of the vehicle. One netizen argued, "If the taxi reached 70 km/h within 3 seconds after starting, sudden unintended acceleration is possible."

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