Hit-and-run driver who hid on Hallasan until sober, sentenced to 5 years in prison

"Drank 4 to 5 glasses of soju on the day of the accident," statement
However, no charges of drunk driving applied

A man in his 40s who caused an accident while driving without a license on a mountainous road in Jeju and fled the scene was sentenced to prison.

The Jeju District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Yeo Kyung-eun) sentenced A (41), who was detained and prosecuted on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (hit-and-run injury), to five years in prison.

Jeju 516 Road Accident Video.
[Image provided by Jeju Dongbu Police Station]

The court stated, "Severe punishment is inevitable for drunk driving without a license. The defendant caused consecutive traffic accidents and fled, hiding in Hallasan to the extent that a breathalyzer test was impossible, before being caught." It added, "There are multiple victims, and the defendant has not been forgiven by them." However, the court also considered the defendant's admission of guilt and remorse, as well as the absence of prior drunk driving offenses.

On July 10 at around 6:39 p.m., A was driving a Sonata passenger car owned by an acquaintance on Route 516 near the Seongpanak Visitor Center on Hallasan, heading toward Seogwipo, when he crossed the center line and collided with three passenger cars in succession. He then fled the scene but again crossed the center line and collided with an oncoming mainline bus before fleeing once more.

Jeju 516 Road Accident Video. [Image provided by Jeju Dongbu Police Station]

After the first accident, A briefly stopped but then drove away in the damaged car, again crossing the center line and colliding with the bus. Three people, including bus passengers, were injured and taken to the hospital, and severe traffic congestion occurred temporarily.

Only after the second accident did A get out of the car and, taking advantage of the chaotic situation, fled into nearby bushes before police arrived. The next day at around 8:20 a.m., police who responded to a report arrested him urgently near Yangji Park in Jeju City, approximately 13 km from the accident site.

A’s driver’s license had been canceled in 2018, and he was driving without a license when the accident occurred. Initially, he claimed, "I did not drink and drive," but later changed his statement, saying, "I drank 4 to 5 shots of soju as a side drink at a restaurant at lunchtime on the day of the accident." Based on this, the police reviewed the restaurant’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and secured videos showing A drinking multiple times. However, since no alcohol level was detected, the charge of drunk driving was ultimately not applied.

About 13 hours and 40 minutes after the incident, the police urgently arrested A and conducted a breathalyzer test, which showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0%. Blood was also drawn immediately and sent to the National Forensic Service for testing, but no alcohol was detected there either.

Under current law, to apply drunk driving charges, blood alcohol concentration must be confirmed. Although the Widmark method can estimate blood alcohol concentration retrospectively based on elapsed time, it requires an initial detectable alcohol level, making it difficult to apply if no alcohol is detected.

A reportedly said, "I apologize to the victims. Although I am currently unable to reach a settlement, I will do so within 2 to 3 years after release. If given a chance, I will become someone who contributes to society even a little."

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