SEOUL – Two people were killed and 18 others injured on Thursday after a light truck crashed into a crowded market in Bucheon, a city west of Seoul, South Korea, emergency officials said.
The incident occurred when the vehicle ploughed 150 metres through a narrow passageway lined with stalls before coming to a halt. According to Yonhap News Agency, the victims who suffered cardiac arrest were later pronounced dead.
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Authorities said the truck had reversed about 28 metres before accelerating toward the outdoor market. The driver, a man in his 60s, told police that the crash was caused by a “sudden surge of acceleration.”
Officials confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol, and the vehicle has been seized for a technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
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CCTV footage broadcast on local media showed shoppers browsing stalls moments before the blue truck sped into the marketplace, causing chaos and destruction. Police have arrested the driver and are continuing their inquiry into the deadly crash.