A 70-Year-Old Runs 70m More Than an 8-Year-Old Girl... Not Considered a Hit-and-Run

"Thought It Was a Brake" Statement
Not a Hit-and-Run Since Returned After Accident
Police Investigate Related Supreme Court Precedents

The police have determined that the driver who hit an 8-year-old girl and then drove an additional 70 meters was "not involved in a hit-and-run." The driver, in their 70s, reportedly stated that they mistook the accelerator pedal for the brake at the time of the accident.

On the 20th, JTBC highlighted a traffic accident that occurred near an elementary school in Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk. A, the parent of B, a second-grade elementary school student and the victim of the accident, provided the broadcast with CCTV footage capturing the incident.

In the released footage, a black passenger car enters a narrow alley, and B runs down a hill on the right side connected to the alley. After the vehicle collides with B, it accelerates and travels about 70 meters further before coming to a stop.

The police have determined that the driver who hit an 8-year-old girl and then drove an additional 70 meters is "not guilty of hit-and-run." The photo is unrelated to the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

As a result of the accident, B was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage and reportedly suffered fractures to the skull and leg. B was then rushed to a nearby hospital for surgery. A explained, "If you watch the footage, the offending vehicle actually speeds up after hitting the child," adding, "It then travels another 70 meters before stopping and hesitates by moving the vehicle back and forth."

Despite this situation, the police judged that the driver in their 70s was not guilty of a hit-and-run. A expressed frustration, saying, "Seeing my child come out of the operating room, I felt for the first time that my heart was breaking," while shedding tears.

The driver in their 70s reportedly told the police, "At the moment of the accident, I thought I was pressing the brake but mistakenly stepped on the accelerator." According to JTBC, the driver is currently not subject to criminal punishment. They got out of the car and returned after the accident, and since serious injury is not recognized, it is considered a matter for private settlement. The police are investigating similar cases by reviewing Supreme Court precedents.

This accident is expected to intensify the controversy over licenses for drivers aged 65 and older. According to the Road Traffic Authority's traffic accident analysis system, last year, accidents caused by elderly drivers numbered 34,562, an 8% increase compared to the previous year, marking the highest figure in 18 years since related statistics began in 2005.

Generally, physical and cognitive abilities decline with age. This is why the current Road Traffic Act mandates safety education every three years for drivers aged 75 and older to renew their licenses. However, this education has been criticized as a formal test because it lacks detailed evaluation of the driver's cognitive abilities.

Additionally, to prevent the increasing number of accidents involving elderly drivers, the government implemented a "Voluntary Surrender of Driver’s License for Elderly Drivers" program in 2018. However, only about 1% of licenses have been voluntarily surrendered. The benefits given to those who surrender their licenses are limited to transportation expenses worth around 100,000 won or local currency, leading to criticism that the incentives are insufficient.

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