Driver Abandoned Imported Car After Accident and Fled, Surrendered After 34 Hours

Drowsy Driving Claim "Got Up Because I Was Scared" Statement
Police "Too Much Time Passed, Breathalyzer Test Impossible"

A driver who abandoned their vehicle and fled after an accident in Gwangju surrendered to the police 34 hours later. The photo shows the logo of the Gwangju Seobu Police Station. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] A driver who fled the scene after crashing a foreign car onto a sidewalk and abandoning the vehicle turned himself in to the police after 34 hours.

The Gwangju Western Police Station announced on the 23rd that they have booked a man in his 30s, Mr. A, on charges of failing to properly handle the accident vehicle (violation of the Road Traffic Act).

Mr. A is accused of driving an Audi passenger car and crashing onto the sidewalk in front of the Western Office of Education in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, at around 12:06 PM on the 21st, then leaving the vehicle behind and fleeing the scene. Although there were no casualties in the accident, the front part of Mr. A's vehicle was severely damaged, and landscaping stones and metal fences were also broken.

The police visited Mr. A’s residence based on the vehicle registration information, but he was not home, and his mobile phone was turned off. It was also reported that Mr. A’s family could not contact him. Mr. A voluntarily appeared at the police station at around 10:30 PM on the 22nd, the day after the accident, and reportedly stated, "It was an accident caused by drowsy driving," and "I was scared, so I left the scene."

The police stated that it was impossible to conduct a breathalyzer test 34 hours after the accident. After analyzing Mr. A’s card payment history and the vehicle’s black box, they plan to summon him again soon to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident.

According to Article 54 of the Road Traffic Act, a driver who causes an accident must immediately report the accident to a police officer or police station. Failure to do so constitutes a hit-and-run, punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 15 million won.

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