Forensic agency concludes driver likely responsible for fatal car crash near Seoul City Hall

Roads are cordoned off after a fatal car crash near Seoul City Hall in Jung District, Seoul, on July 2. Yonhap

The National Forensic Service concluded that the driver was likely responsible for the recent car crash near Seoul City Hall that killed nine people, contradicting the driver’s claim that he accelerated suddenly and unintentionally, police said on Monday.

Cho Ji-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, announced the results of the forensic service’s analysis of the Hyundai Genesis sedan involved in the fatal accident and the accident data recorder (EDR), which was handed over to the police last week.

On July 1, the sedan sped about 200 meters in the wrong direction on a one-way street near Seoul City Hall before hitting the sidewalk guardrail, hitting pedestrians and colliding with two other cars.

Nine pedestrians, most of them nearby office workers, were killed while seven others were injured.

The 68-year-old driver, surnamed Cha, claimed the accident was caused by sudden, unintended acceleration. He said the brakes were “stiff” and did not work at the time of the accident.

The results of the forensic investigation reportedly showed that Cha had the accelerator pedal pressed to 90 percent at the time of the accident.

According to reports, the vehicle’s apparently illuminated brake lights were merely reflections from surrounding buildings or the result of a flickering effect.

The Seoul police chief said police believed the forensic findings were close to the “concrete truth” and that no further investigation into the cause of the accident was necessary. Cha could therefore be held responsible for the fatal accident.

Police intend to question Cha further in light of the new findings, depending on his health condition, Cho also said.

The driver suffered broken ribs in the accident and has been in hospital since the day of the accident, where he is being interrogated. (Yonhap)