Driver involved in serious fatal car crash in Seoul faces manslaughter charge

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The driver involved in a horrific car crash in Seoul that killed nine people is being investigated for suspected accidental killing, police said Tuesday.

On Monday evening, a car hit pedestrians waiting at a busy traffic light in central Seoul. It was reportedly driving in the wrong direction and collided with two other cars. Six other people were injured in the incident, including the driver, who was arrested at the scene.

Police said on Tuesday that tests showed the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The driver told investigators his car accelerated abruptly and unintentionally. Police said they would consider applying for a formal arrest warrant to extend his detention time if it was necessary for the investigation. Police said his car would be sent to the country’s forensic agency for examination.

Police refused to reveal the driver’s identity, citing privacy laws, but South Korean media reported that he was a bus driver in his late 60s from Ansan, a city south of Seoul, who had over 40 years of driving experience.