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The two people were pronounced dead at a hospital following the
incident shortly before 11 a.m. in Bucheon city, near the
capital of Seoul.
Nine people sustained serious injuries among the 18 who were
hurt, Bucheon’s municipal government said, noting it wasn’t
immediately clear if any of the injuries were life-threatening.
Police are questioning the unidentified truck driver in his 60s
who was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, said Son
Byeong-sam, a police official in Bucheon.
Park Geum-cheon, an official at Bucheon’s fire station, said
witnesses told investigators that the vehicle initially reversed
about 28 meters (92 feet) before driving forward 150 meters (492
feet), hitting pedestrians on the way.
The driver claimed his vehicle had malfunctioned and that
officials were reviewing security camera footage, he said.
Photos from the scene showed the truck jammed into a storefront
in a jumble of debris, including toppled boxes, clothing and
broken signboards. The front left side of the truck was mangled
and its windows were shattered. Officials later removed the
vehicle from the scene to investigate the crash.
Bucheon will support the restoration of damaged facilities,
Mayor Cho Yong-eek said in a statement, adding that the city
also will conduct safety inspections and provide psychological
support for merchants and others who witnessed the crash.
Cho’s office did not immediately have an estimate of the
property damage, including the number of shops that were
impacted.
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